Who Makes Subaru?
Subaru is the automotive manufacturing division of Subaru Corporation, a larger and more sprawling firm that makes everything from industrial equipment to aircraft. Here in the U.S., Subaru is best known for its range of coupes, sedans and SUVs, most of which offer all-wheel drive. In the past, the automaker also produced quirky pickup trucks, such as the Brat and Baja, though none have been sold here since the Baja was discontinued following the 2006 model year.
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Subaru’s History
The backstory of Subaru’s origins begins in 1953 with the founding of Fuji Heavy Industries, which consisted of six companies and serves as the inspiration for the Subaru name and logo. The logo is meant to symbolize the six-star Pleiades star cluster, and to no surprise, “Subaru” happens to be the Japanese name for this celestial body. The Fuji Heavy Industries name itself was retired in 2017 when the conglomerate was renamed Subaru Corp.
Subaru’s first entry in the U.S. market was the 360 microcar. Imported in the late 1960s, the 360 stood out thanks to its tiny bubble shape, extremely light weight, excellent fuel economy and very low price. Unfortunately, the party was short-lived when Consumer Reports deemed the 360 the “most unsafe car on the market.” Subaru persevered in the U.S., albeit with much less Spartan and esoteric automobiles.
The brand has an extensive record of joint partnerships with other automakers. Beginning in the late 1980s, Subaru and Isuzu created a jointly owned factory in Lafayette, Ind. At one point, Nissan owned a portion of Fuji Heavy Industries, though this was sold to GM in 2000. A result of this union turned a badge-engineered version of the Impreza hatchback into the model-year 2005-06 Saab 9-2X (GM also owned the Swedish automaker at the time). GM eventually sold its shares in Fuji Heavy Industries back to FHI and Toyota.
Subaru models sold in the U.S. are manufactured either in Japan or at the automaker’s plant in Indiana.
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What Cars Are Currently in Subaru’s Lineup?
Subaru’s current lineup includes cars such as the Impreza hatchback and Legacy sedan, and its range of SUVs is more well padded and represented by the Crosstrek, Outback, Forester and three-row Ascent. Subaru’s sporty side is represented by the WRX sedan and two-passenger, rear-wheel-drive BRZ coupe; the latter is the only model in the lineup not fitted with standard AWD. There is also the Solterra electric SUV, which is the vehicle of choice for Subaru shoppers who prefer zero-emission driving. Both the BRZ and Solterra were jointly developed with Toyota.
A technical quirk of many gas-fed Subaru engines is their “boxer” design. Rather than the pistons moving in a more traditional vertical or slanted (in V-shaped engines) motion, the pistons in a boxer engine move in a horizontal motion in opposing directions. This improves a vehicle’s center of gravity, therefore increasing stability, as well as reduces vibration and improves fuel economy.
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