TOKYO -(Dow Jones)- Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (7270.TO) President Ikuo Mori said Tuesday that the maker of Subaru brand cars is open to procuring batteries for its electric cars from any battery maker, and doesn't want to limit its suppliers to a battery-making subsidiary of its partner, Toyota Motor Corp. ( 7203.TO).

"It's not necessary to stick to Toyota and Panasonic. We want to procure ( batteries) from whoever can offer reasonable prices with good quality," Mori told reporters after a press conference for the launch of the company's new minivan.

Toyota, which owns a 8.7% stake in Fuji Heavy, makes batteries for the Prius and other hybrid models at its 60% owned subsidiary, Panasonic EV Energy Co. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (6752.TO), the maker of Panasonic brand consumer electronics, owns the rest of the unit.

The battery maker is ramping up production capacity and plans to produce next- generation lithium-ion batteries.

Mori's comments signal Fuji Heavy's openness to finding more competitive suppliers if Panasonic EV Energy cannot meet its needs as it battles rivals in the race to mass-produce electric cars.

Mori said it is too early to expect affordable electric cars for the average car owner.

Even so, as more battery makers are outlining production plans for the next several years, "the price (of batteries) may begin to drop sharply" once they full-scale production, Mori said.