The Legacy of Subaru: Exploring the Meaning Behind the Iconic Logo

Subaru Corporation, formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries, is a Japanese transportation company that manufactures automobiles. The business was established in 1953, and in 1958 it was given a brand name. As Subaru gained popularity over time, its parent business, Fuji Heavy Industries Limited, changed its name to Subaru Corporation in 2017. 

Subaru's vision for mobility emphasizes engineering excellence and technological ingenuity, with their symmetrical all-wheel-drive system promoting confidence and freedom for travel anytime, anywhere. Subaru models include the Impreza, Legacy, Sambar, 360, Forester, and more. Subarus are well-known around the world for their four-wheel independent suspension, flat engine (horizontally opposed/boxer engine), and All-Wheel Drive system. 

History of SUBARU Motor Corporation

Subaru, initially Fuji Heavy Industries, was established in 1915 under Chikuhei Nakajima. Restructured in 1932, it became the leading Japanese army aircraft manufacturer during World War II. After the war, Nakajima Aircraft was renamed Fuji Sangyo Co, Ltd, and produced various metal products using salvaged spare parts and aircraft industry technology, including bicycles, motor scooters, bicycle trailers, pans, strollers, and pots. In the 1950s, the Japanese government implemented 'anti-zaibatsu legislation', requiring large companies to dissolve. This led to Fuji Sangyo breaking into 12 small corporations and later merging five heavy industries to form Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) in 1953. 

In the mid-1950s, FHI CEO Kenji Kita initiated a car manufacturing project, code-named P-1. He launched a competition for a name, but no appealing name emerged. Despite several proposals, Kita's vision remained unfulfilled. Kita named the Pleiades star cluster Subaru, which translates to "to unite, gather together" in Japanese. Following the war, Japan's government imposed a tax exemption for cars with a length of 360 cm or less and a petrol engine of 29 km/liter or less, aiming to stimulate the local automotive industry. The law positively impacted FHI, leading to the production of the successful Subaru 360, following the unsuccessful Subaru 1500, which was their first model. The Subaru 360, introduced in 1958, was a 3m long rear-engine car with a 2-cylinder 358 cc air-cooled engine. Despite initial low sales, it became a successful vehicle for FHI, with sales increasing from 604 units in the first year to 22,000 by 1961. 

The Sambar and 1000 models were introduced in 1961 and 1965 respectively, featuring the Boxer engine, becoming a Subaru trademark, and being the first front-wheel-drive production car in Japan. In 1972, Subaru introduced the Subaru Leone, the first mass-produced all-wheel-drive car, gaining popularity among car enthusiasts and engineers. This model, along with other AWD Subaru models, established Subaru as a leading brand in the all-wheel-drive car niche. In 1982, Subaru introduced its first turbocharged engines. The Legacy was introduced in 1989, followed by the Impreza in 1992. In 1996, the Outback, a "Sports Utility Wagon," was introduced. Subaru's lineup includes models such as P1, 360, Sambar, 1000, R2, Domingo, Alcyone, Legacy, Impreza, Sambar EV electric van, Forester, and Tribeca.

Meaning of “SUBARU”

Subaru, meaning "to unite" in Japanese, also refers to the constellation Pleiades. The six stars in the Pleiades, which are over 200, were formed after the merger of six heavy industries, forming Fuji Heavy Industries. The larger star represents FHI, originally representing the five companies that initially merged.

Meaning of SUBARU Symbol

Subaru's emblem features five small stars and a big star, representing the merger of five small companies into one big company. Despite changes in star arrangement, the five stars remain constant.

Finally

Subaru has made it a practice to manufacture vehicles with unique characteristics that may be safely considered to as exclusive advancements. These features, such as boxer engines, all-wheel drive, and monocoque structures, are now used throughout the industry. Subarus is renowned for its superior performance and superb quality for both daily usage and motorsport. You can now check the Subaru stocklist for more available models.