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There are few bright spots this holiday season for car manufacturers, but Subaru is one of them. According to Automotive News, Subaru will likely post a sales increase for the year, albeit a small one. Through the first eleven months of 2008, sales were up 1.2 percent. Total U.S. light vehicle sales were down 16.3 percent.
“We’re doing it in a good way,” said Tom Doll, executive vice president. “The quality of our sales is very good. We aren’t selling a massive number of cars to fleets.”
“We are settled in niches, and our customer is better financially heeled than other car customers – we have good demographics.”
Subaru will post sales records for three of its models: the Forester, Legacy and Impreza. The Forester, a small crossover was redesigned for the 2009 model year, and has been very well received by the media and consumers. The Impreza compact probably owes its success to the spike in gasoline prices earlier this year. The Legacy sedan is scheduled to have a redesign next year. Doll attributes the record sales of the Legacy to the work of Subaru’s new advertising agency, Carmichael Lynch in Minneapolis.
Doll is optimistic about 2009. “With the new president and promises to stimulate the economy, we are hopeful, but not anticipating big growth.”
Source: Automotive News
In re Jan. 09 Trip Notes: Come and See the Show-Automobile mentions the National Automotive History Collection at the Detroit Public Library as something still to do while in Detroit. I will add, seeing “Motor City” at the Detroit Historical Museum on Woodward Ave.. This large exhibit on the history of the Detroit-centered auto industry covers the 20th century. In the days before bailout, the Big 3 and the UAW got together to help fund this exhibit, the centerpiece of which is a working body drop from the old Clark St. Cadillac plant. In an interactive section called “where would you work?” the exhibit pulls no punches about the different job opportunities through the century, based on one’s race, gender and education. The design section includes original rough concept sketches of the first Dodge Charger. I think this is a great exhibit, not the least because Teller Madsen, Inc, my company, designed it working with the wonderful museum staff. But hey, we’re all critics so have a look while you’re at the show and report back. Frank Madsen