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Subaru Sales Surge; Best Sales Month in Five Years

4 August 1997

Subaru Sales Surge; Best Sales Month in Five Years

    CHERRY HILL, N.J., Aug. 4 -- Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA)
today announced its July sales figures.  The figures represent the continuing
success of Subaru sales with a year-to-date total of 66,971 units --
up 4 percent over the same period in 1996 of 64,270 total sales.
    For July, Subaru posted 11,222 total sales.  This makes July the best
sales month during 1997 and the best retail month in five years.
    The Legacy model line led sales results with 7,399 units.  Within the
Legacy line, the Subaru Outback accounted for 4,609 of those units.  The
Impreza line continues to increase its year-over-year sales improvement with
2,169 sales for July.  The Impreza wagon led the model line with 1,621 units
-- an increase of 68 percent over the same month in 1996.
    "Subaru sales momentum is strong and growing," said Fred Adcock, vice
president of sales.  "We're confident the introduction of the all-new Forester
will add incremental sales to our already strong product line-up."
    The Subaru Forester, the company's newest car-based utility vehicle, also
contributed to the July sales success.  The company sold 1,610 Subaru Forester
vehicles during its preview month.  The official launch of Forester took place
on July 29th at the Subaru National Dealer Meeting.  The national advertising
campaign will break the week of August 11th.
    Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy
Industries Ltd. of Japan.  Headquartered near Philadelphia, the company
markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a
network of nearly 630 franchised dealers across the United States.  All Legacy
models sold in the U.S., including the Outback, are produced at the company's
American manufacturing plant, Subaru-Isuzu Automotive, Inc., near Lafayette,
Ind.

SOURCE  Subaru of America, Inc.