Subaru
Subaru is a Japanese automobile manufacturer owned by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. With more than 10 million units sold globally, it is the largest producer of four-wheel drive passenger cars and has the reputation of being a pioneer in this category.
From aerospace to automobile industry
Subaru's history dates back to 1917. Back then, Chikulhei Nakajima founded Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. in Gunma, still the site of Subaru's production plants. Back then, the company only manufactured airplanes. The first entry to the automobile market was the Subaru 1500 in 1954. The first mass-produced Subaru was released in 1958. Subaru reached a milestone in 1972 when it released the first mass-produced passenger car with switchable four-wheel drive. 15 years later, in 1987, the first permanent four-wheel drive car was introduced under the name Subaru XT. From 1994 onwards, only permanent four-wheel drive technology was used under the designation AWD.
Subaru classics
The Subaru Leone 4WD Station Wagon is without a doubt one of the greatest classics Subaru ever produced. It was the first mass-produced passenger car with manually switchable four-wheel drive. The Subaru Leone 4WD Station Wagon was a big sales hit, both in Japan and in the export markets. Another Subaru classic is the 360 Minicar, the first mass-produced Subaru. It was released in 1958 and produced until 1970. The 360 Minicar is colloquially known as the Ladybug, a name it owes to its rounded design. The affordable minicar with four wheels and as many seats only had 16 BHP.
Subaru's logo
The Subaru logo is a blue oval containing six stars which represent the six companies that formed Fuji Heavy Industries. The design is based on the six brightest stars in the skies of Japan, the constellation of the Pleiades, known in Japan as Subaru.