Subaru of America Commemorates 50th Anniversary
Subaru of America’s golden anniversary marks five decades of growth that started from humble beginnings by two American businessmen.
August 1, 2018
The all-new Subaru of America headquarters held its grand opening on April 27. The $118 million campus, located in Camden, N.J., brings four previously separate offices under one roof. It's double the size of the previous headquarters at 250,000 sq. ft. and houses 550 employees.
Photo by Mike Antich
1 min to read
Subaru of America was founded on Feb. 15, 1968 by two American businessman: Malcolm Bricklin and Harvey Lamm. In 1965, Bricklin was selling franschises for motor scooters that included the Fuji Rabbit and the tiny Subaru 360, a rear-engined, two-door city car. Bricklin then formed Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) in order to sell Subaru franchises with Harvey Lamm.
As SOA continued to grow, it moved in 1986 to a larger corporate headquarters in Cherry Hill, N.J. Subaru entered the fleet market in 1987, when it hired Charles Reed as its manager of national fleet and rental. Reed continues to this day to lead the company's fleet sales organization.
On Aug. 31, 1990, Fuji Heavy Industries acquired Subaru of America thorugh a $6 per share cash offer. Fuji Heavy Industries was renamed Subaru Corp. in April of 2017.
From its humble beginning, SOA has grown, experiencing record growth for the past nine consecutive years. A key dfferentiator and important factor in Subaru’s success in the U.S. market was its decision to offer all-wheel-drive across its entire product lineup.
With its ongoing expansion, SOA outgrew the Cherry Hill HQ and in May 2018 SOA moved into a brand-new headquaters it built in Camden, N.J., that was twice as large.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Vehicle Research
What Should We Make of the Fiat Topolino?
This atypical low-speed vehicle is coming to the U.S. It's smaller than a Smart Fortwo and starts at $13,995.
Read More →
USPS, Zipcar, DPD UK, and Others Named Winners of The Optimizers Awards 2026
USPS, Zipcar, DPD UK, and other fleet organizations were recognized in the 2026 Optimizers Awards for initiatives involving route optimization, automation, AI, and fleet utilization.
Read More →
Commercial Fleet Sales Contribute To June, YTD Gains
The fleet sector has boosted its vehicle purchases at a reliable pace in the first half of this year compared with 1H 2025.
Read More →
Mid-Atlantic Advanced Transportation Summit to Explore Fleet Fuels, Infrastructure, and Transportation Innovation
Fleet Forward Conference expands collaboration with Clean Cities organizations as part of a broader effort to connect fleet leaders with emerging transportation technologies and strategies.
Read More →
America's 250th Birthday: Vehicles That Kept the Country Moving Over the Years
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, Automotive Fleet looks back at 11 vehicles that helped shape commercial transportation.
Read More →
Can AI Really Make Fleet Drivers Safer?
Chris Brown and Wheels rep David Glines discuss how AI is reshaping safety for fleet drivers.
Read More →
GMC Previews Redesigned 2027 Sierra 1500 with New V8 Engines, Expanded Technology
The next-generation Sierra arrives later this year with new powertrains, a fully redesigned cabin, and trims aimed at the premium end of the full-size pickup segment.
Read More →
Slate Debuts Colorful, Unique EV Models
A recent media and client event, studded with electric vehicles dressed up on platforms, planted a new position for the manufacturer in the wider EV market. Fleets will find cost-saving advantages.
Read More →
Slate Electric SUV, Pickup Switchable Model Aims For Light-Duty Fleets
Everything about this EV is counterintuitive and understated, making it stand out from the crowd.
Read More →
Polestar Barred from U.S. Market Under Connected Vehicle Rule
The automaker loses its authorization to sell new vehicles in the U.S., starting with the 2027 model year. Polestar owners will retain access to the brand's service network.
Read More →