Subaru of America is celebrating 40 years of operating in the United States at the 2008 Philadelphia motor show from today (1 February).

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The automaker’s stand will feature the redesigned 2009 Forester and ‘historical’ vehicles including the little rear-drive 360, FF1 (a distant predecessor of the current Legacy/Liberty), Brat, SVX PPG Pace Car and STI 22B.


Subaru of America was formed in Philadelphia in 1968 and the brand is now known as a pioneer and leader in all-wheel drive, performance vehicles and crossovers.


Now based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Subaru of America was founded by two Philadelphia entrepreneurs. It forged an alliance with Fuji Heavy Industries of Tokyo and became the exclusive US importer of Subaru brand vehicles.


Prior to 1990, SOA was the only American-operated import car company whose stock was traded publicly on the NASDAQ.

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On 31 August, 1990, FHI, SOA’s major manufacturing partner, purchased the majority share of SOA’s stock. SOA then became a wholly owned subsidiary of FHI.


FHI’s home factory in Ota City, Japan and Subaru-Indiana Automotive, Inc., (SIA), located near Lafayette, Indiana, manufacture all US-marketed vehicles with approximately 50% of US-sold vehicles being manufactured there. The facility was, at one time, shared with Isuzu but now also makes Camry sedans for Toyota, which has a stake in Fuji Heavy.


According to WardsAuto.com data, SOA sold 187,206 units in the US last year, down 6.7%, making it a relatively niche player in the world’s largest car market (16m cars and light trucks in ’07).


But its North American production was up 33.3% to 147,149 units, according to Wards.