Subaru History

Subaru – automobile brand of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd, an industrial giant and car manufacturing is only one of FHI multitude of majors. In addition FHI engaged in aircraft machinery, rail transport, shipbuilding. The history of the company that gave birth to Subaru automobile brand began in 1917 when Chikuhei Nakajima, young engineer and aviation enthusiast established “The Aircraft Research Laboratory”.

In 1931 the laboratory grew up to Nakajima Aircraft Co., Ltd aircraft construction company. Its aircrafts were used in WW II and demanded right to 1945. Given Japan surrender in WW II American occupation authorities applied to Nakajima Aircraft antimonopoly and prohibitive measures so that the company was renamed into Fuji Sangye Ltd. Given Japan was obliged not to have military forces and army the company commenced on motor boats, railway cars, buses and gasoline engines manufacturing.

Thus Fuji Sangye Ltd had to invest its experience and technological skills to new fields of industry. By far there automobile manufacturing had not place in company program. Produced in 1946 motor scooter – “Rabbit” came as a forerunner. It was constructed with pre-war aviation maintenance engagement.

In 1950 Fuji Sangyo broke apart for 12 independent enterprises. Some of them vanished upon some time. But soon in 1953 however 5 of them united into one - Fuji Heavy Industries. This company was later joined by sixth enterprise. Following this the corporation with headquarters in Hiroshima directed its manufacturing facilities to jetliners, petrol saws, Rabbit motor scooters and buses with diesel engines assuming gradually more and more reputation and success.

Important event in Subaru history came when in 1954 was constructed P-1 (Subaru 1500) – car prototype which was the first model with mono-cock body type in Japanese car manufacturing. With all riding and comfort advantages of the model it was not launched into manufacturing since financial troubles connected to production initiating and sales. Still Subaru P-1 model played an important role in 360 and 1000 model development.

The name “Subaru” appeared due to Kenji Kita, FHI president who declared a competition on the name for P-1 model after it was invented. He was meaning that Japanese car should bear Japanese name but none of competition suggested names fitted and Kenji Kita contrived the name himself – “Subaru”. This word in the Japanese means “unite, put together” as well as is the name for Pleiad constellation (part of Taurus constellation). In fact, using naked eye one can see 6 stars of Pleiad constellation – right the number of companies that had merged once into Fuji Heavy Industries.

Only in 1958 Subaru made actually effective debut as automobile manufacturer. The government of the worn out by WW II Japan in the light of raw materials and fuel lack and obvious necessity to encourage own ...