You can hardly fail to mention the word Subaru when you are talking about automotive. The company has manufactured a good number of vehicles that are sold all over the globe. Vehicles from this giant automotive company are robust and sturdy making them last for a long time. This is the reason Subaru cars are often used in rallying. Some of the vehicles manufactured by the company include Forester XT, Ascent, Outback XT, WRX, Legacy, and Legacy GT. In 2017, Subaru was the 21st substantial automaker by fabrication universal. Below are amazing facts you should know.
Origin
This is a Japanese company headquartered at Ebisu, Shibuya, Japan. Kenji Kita alongside Chikuhei Nakajima is the founder of this company. The company that manufactured the first car was called Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI). Initially, the company was interested in aircraft as it began as Aircraft Research Laboratory in 1915 managed by Chikuhei Nakajima.
In 1932, the company became the significant manufacturer of aircraft for Japan during World War II after it restructured to Nakajima Aircraft Company. After the war, the firm was renamed Fuji Sangyo Co Ltd in 1946. The corporation produced a motor scooter called Fuji Rabbit with spare aircraft fragments from World War II.
Fuji Sangyo was divided into 12 miniature corporations after a government directive in 1950, the Corporate Credit Rearrangement Act. Later between 1953 and 1955 five of these small corporations and another one newly created merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries.
Kenji Kita was the Chief Executive Officer of Fuji Heavy Industries and under his leadership, the company started manufacturing automobiles. Kita convinced the stakeholders to venture into automotive manufacturing and that is how the company made the first-ever car. See this link to read more facts https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/99079459/five-strange-subaru-facts
Meaning of the Name Subaru
Have you ever asked yourself what is the meaning of the word Subaru and why did the company settle to that name?
Kenji Kita, the CEO of Fuji Heavy Industries coined the name Subaru for their automotive. It is a Japanese word for the Pleiades star cluster. This star cluster is made of seven which are called the seven sisters. One of the stars is invisible with bare eyes as it faded away. The Subaru logo has six visible stars exclusive of one invisible star.
The name also means unite in Japanese. This stands for the six corporations that amalgamated to come up with Fuji Heavy Industries. Companies that merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries include; Tokyo Fuji Sangyo, Fuji Kogyo, Utsunomiya Sharyo, Fuji Jidosha, Omiya Fuji Kogyo, and other new companies back then.
The First Vehicle Manufactured
Fuji Heavy Industries was made by their first car in 1954. The car initially was named P1 before the company’s CEO; Kenji Kita changed the name to Subaru. On the set of a production of this vehicle, the name was changed to Subaru 1500. The number 1500 was added because the first Car had a 1500cc four-cylinder OHV engine.
It had a unique layout; a front-engine rear-wheel drive. The Subaru 1500 had a ponton-style look and a body structure called monocoque.
Only twenty 1500s were produced in 1954. 11 out of the 20 vehicles had the FG4A engine. The other remaining six cars were given out to taxi companies for testing to prove if the car was roadworthy and the feedback was optimistic. This is how the Subaru cars came into existence.
Manufacturing Facilities
This is one of the main automotive companies not only in Japan but all over the world. Through their unique blueprint, Subaru manages to sell almost 75% of their cars internationally in Japan.
In Japan, the automotive manufacturing plant is found in Ōta, Gunma Prefecture. This area is constituted of four sites. All their cars are fabricated in Yajima Plant. Commercial trucks are built in Otakita Plant. Subaru BRZ is manufactured in Subaru-chō as transmissions and engines are produced in Oizumi Plant.
These vehicles are not only produced in Japan but also overseas. The biggest overseas manufacturing facility is located in Lafayette, Indiana. The firm is called Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. Click here to read more about the Impreza model.
Conclusion
Subaru is a big automotive company as it sells its products globally. There are big outlets in Asia, United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. This brand is actively engaged in motor-sports competitions.
Subaru Rally Team Japan which was led by Noriyuki Koseki, who was the founder of Subaru Technical International (STI), introduced some cars in World Rally Championship between 1980 and 1989.
Their slogan is love and their campaign dubbed “Love” is one of the most known and long-lasting marketing efforts in the automobile niche.
Kelley Blue Books an Irvine vehicle valuation and automotive research company based in California named Subaru of America as the most trusted brand.