BRZ and 86/FRS Assembly Line
 

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Here, the final assembly of the Toyota 86 in Blue, and Subaru BRZ in white, are getting the under-guard panels installed, along with muffler tips and other cosmetic elements, along with the next station ahead, adjustment of wheel alignment and other suspension calibration. Beyond that door ahead of this is the chassis dynamo-meter check station where it will get a virtual "test drive" for mechanical QC on a treadmill, followed by the wet tank, simulating a massive rainstorm, to check for any leaks into body cavities and cabin.

Also interesting to note that while region specific cars, ie. USA, Japan, Asia-Pacific, and European cars are built in serial batches, the BRZ and FRS are assembled right along in the same batch, in between the single line are both brand cars. Perhaps the left hand drive vs right hand configuration is the only part that needs major reconfiguration to justify a batch shifting process, while other differences are easily accommodated by the 'kanban' arrival systems for parts specific to each car in the same batch process, tagged by computerized trays all arriving to each station for each specific parts, harnesses, interior trim, and garnish.

Note also that these cars have both TOW hooks installed, which means these cars at not domestic market cars, but are exports somewhere by car carrier ships.
Obviously this isn't the USA as this one has a Toyota logo on it, and perhaps somewhere in Asia, or Australia, maybe GB? as these are Right hand drives.

Domestic cars (Japanese Market) do not have tow hooks at the factory, as they are shipped by trucks only. On carrier trucks, they get tied at the tires, so as not to stress the body structure.

Export models do have them installed at the factory to tie them down to ships that park the cars at only 4cm (2") stagger, and gets tied down securely in case of rough seas, at the bumpers.
The hooks are removed at the destination port, before loading on the trucks upon arrival on the continent of consumption, this so as not to poke a hole in the cars if they bump at the bumpers?

It's neat to note that meticulous process like this, and utter efficiency they have achieved in making great cars at FHI and Toyota.


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BRZ/86 Line-Off assembly, celebrating the first car off was attended by CEO of both Toyota and Subaru at the FHI Gumma plant.

Photos courtesy of Nikkei Media (Japan)

That's really cool.

Wasn't this posted... months ago <.<;? It was even on the front page :d

Yes the photo was published a while ago, I just got some elaborated information on this a week ago so I thought I'd share.

Ah cool.

Tow hooks illegal on roads in Australia. As you say probably removed on landing if destined for here.

Yes, they are there for shipping use only, and removed at the port upon arrival.