"SUBARU" is a Japanese word meaning "unite," as well as a term identifying a cluster of six stars which the Greeks called the Pleiades -- part of the Taurus constellation. According to Greek mythology, Atlas' daughters turned into this group of stars.

Subaru's Beginnings...

Subaru started out as "The Aircraft Research Laboratory" in 1917 by Chikuhei Nakajima. Then in 1931, the company was reorganized as "Nakajima Aircraft Co., Ltd", designer of the infamous Zero fighter. At the end of the Second World War, Nakajima Aircraft was again reorganized, this time as Fuji Sangyo Co, Ltd. In 1946, Fuji Sangyo created its first Rabbit motor scooter with spare aircraft parts from the war (see picture on right). In 1950, Fuji Sangyo was divided into 12 smaller corporations according to the 1950 Corporate Credit Rearrangement Act, but between 1953-1955, four of these corporations and a newly formed corporation formed by an alliance of the four aforementioned companies were again merged together to form the Fuji Heavy Industries we know today.

The new corporation adopted the "Subaru" cluster of stars as its official logo for its line of automobiles. In 1955, Fuji Heavy Industries rolled out the P-1 as "Subaru 1500". This vehicle has the first Japanese-manufactured monocoque body. Unfortunately, the sales of this vehicle was terminated due to funding diffuculties.

Today, Fuji Heavy Industries is a global transportation conglomerate employing more than 15,000 people with nine manufacturing plants and selling its products in 100 countries. The company has a long history as a technological innovator and boasts some of the most diversified and advanced all-wheel drive (AWD) technologies in the world.
Advancement and Technology

Using its advanced research and development capabilities, FHI applies much of its aircraft technology to the company's highly successful automotive division. Prime among these technology transfers is its horizontally opposed "Boxer" engine and its monocoque body construction.

FHI's Subaru division was the first Japanese auto maker to offer front-wheel drive passenger cars in Japan (1965) and four-wheel drive passenger cars in the world (1972). Fuji's first car, the 1958 Subaru 360 Minicar, utilized a variety of new technologies. It was the breakthrough in the Japanese auto industry that helped the company expand into the arena of passenger car production.

Today, the reliability of the Subaru brand name is reflected in the more than 10 million vehicles sold to satisfied customers worldwide.

In 1984, FHI's technological leadership continued when it introduced the electronic continuously variable transmission (ECTV), a technology that replaces standard gears and gives both exceptionally smooth and responsive acceleration as well as better fuel economy than conventional automatic or manual transmissions.

FHI's Worldwide Operations

FHI has seven automotive manufacturing plants worldwide, five of which are based in Japan. The Subaru-Isuzu Automotive, Inc., (SIA), plant in Lafayette, Ind. and Ta Ching Motors Co., Ltd., a manufacturing plant in Taiwan, ensure that a stable supply of Subaru vehicles are manufactured locally and are specifically suited to these markets.
About Subaru

In February 1954, FHI announced its prototype passenger car called the P-1. The P-1, named the Subaru 1500 the following year, used the first Japanese-manufactured monocoque body. This passenger car provided excellent riding comfort and driving stability with its front-wheel wishbone-type independent suspension; a coil spring and double-action oil damper combination, and rear-wheel rigid axle suspension with a three-leaf spring and double-action oil damper combination. Unfortunately, sales had to be suspended because of difficulties in funding the factory equipment and sales network. Nevertheless, this vehicle proved to be of great value in the later developments of the Subaru 360 and Subaru 1000. That was the starting point for Subaru.

But why "Subaru"? Subaru is the name of a star cluster in the Taurus constellation, which is called Pleiades in the West. Six of its stars are visible to the naked eye, but about 250 bluish stars can be seen if one uses a telescope. Credit for naming the company goes to Kenja Kita, the first president of Fuji Heavy Industries. As Fuji Heavy Industries had just taken over 5 of 12 companies resulting from the breakup of the old Nakajima Aircraft Company, Kita saw this unique name as the ideal symbol to express the unification of these 5 Fuji companies -- "Subaru".

Subaru Of America

Subaru of America, Inc., (SOA) was founded in 1968 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Subaru 360 Mini became the first Subaru to be sold on the North American continent. In 1986, SOA relocated its headquarters to Cherry Hill, New Jersey. SOA has 5 regional offices (Aurora, CO -- Central Region, Itasca, IL -- Mid-America Region, Austell, GA -- Southeast Region, Moorestown, NJ -- Penn-Jersey Region, Portland, OR - Western Region) which are responsible for all regional operations, including distribution of parts and cars, service, local advertising, merchandising, sales incentives and dealer relations within their territories. 5 Regional Distribution Centers supply parts and support fixed operations efforts. They are located in Atlanta, GA, Denver, CO, Moorestown, NJ, Peru, IN and Portland, OR. 2 Port Offices of Subaru Of America located in Vancouver, WA and Lafayette, IN, receive imported and US-produced Subaru vehicles and ship them to dealerships. Three independent distributors represent Subaru and oversee all activities within certain geographical territories. Subaru Distributors Corp located in Orangeburg, NY serves NY and Northern NJ. Subaru of New England, Inc. located in Norwood, MA serves CT, ME, MA, NH, RI and VT. Finally, Schuman Carriage Co. from Honolulu, HI, serves HI. Subaru Research And Development, Inc., a subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., is located in Ann Arbor, MI and is involved with advanced design and conducts prototype and emissions testing. Spanning the continental U.S., Subaru is represented by nearly 600 franchised dealerships.