SUBARU Australia has clocked a significant milestone this week, notching up an impressive 600,000 SUV sales in Australia, coinciding perfectly with the company’s 50th year of operation in the country.
During the month of July, Subaru Crosstrek and Outback achieved solid numbers for the Japanese importer, the “surge in demand and overwhelmingly positive response from customers” playing a significant role in reaching the significant milestone.
Subaru Australia managing director, Blair Read, said the occasion of reaching 600,000 SUV sales is one the company can be proud of, taking time to thank Subaru staff for their dedication and passion.
“Surpassing 600,000 Subaru SUVs sold in Australia is a momentous occasion and one we are incredibly proud of,” he enthused.
“We owe this milestone to the ongoing support of our loyal customers, the dedication of our valued dealers and the passion of our entire team.
“We are proud to have earned the trust of Australians over the last five decades, and we are committed to building on this legacy.”
Year-to-date sales for the brand total 26,055 with SUV models forming a significant share of the overall tally.
Subaru has sold 3837 examples of its recently released Crosstrek, as well as 1440 examples of its XV predecessor, the combined figure placing the brand within the top 10 model sales for the Small SUV under $45K category.
Forester sales are stronger again with a total of 9272 units sold to the end of July, giving Subaru a fifth-place position in the booming Medium SUV under $60K category, while the Outback, which contends within the Large SUV under $70K segment, amassed 7025 unit sales to the end of July, placing it third in the segment.
On the passenger side of the fence, Subaru continues to achieve solid numbers selling 1874 Impreza variants, 1653 WRXs and 964 BRZs to the end of July 2023.
Australians got their first taste of Subaru in the early 1970s when the Leone arrived on these shores, bringing front- and all-wheel drive configurations to the small wagon category.
From 1978, the Brumby ute arrived giving local buyers a compact and efficient take on the light commercial vehicle and preceding a variety of models across a range of segments.
Throughout the 1980s, 90s and 00s the Forester, Impreza, Leone, Levorg, Liberty, Outback, SVX, Tribeca and Vortex became household names, as did the rally-winning WRX which it is fair to say reset the definition of affordable performance for many Australian buyers.
Subaru has released a number of commemorative models to celebrate its 50th anniversary Down Under, with more information available here.