December 2008 Sales: Subaru of America

[VenSeattle]

Subaru of America Announces Year-On-Year Sales Increase for 2008

Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/

Link to Press Release

- Record Sales for Impreza, Legacy and Forester lines -

CHERRY HILL, N.J., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America today announced a 0.3% sales increase for full-year 2008 sales over 2007. Driven by record results for its Impreza, Legacy and Forester model lines, Subaru was the only full-line brand with positive sales through November 2008. (Full-year results for other makers are not known at time of posting).

The year-over-year sales increase adds to the good news the company enjoyed in 2008: the Subaru Forester was named 2009 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year and the company was awarded the title Automotive Marketer of the Year by Mediapost.com and the brand has performed well in Kelley Blue Book and ALG ratings.

Subaru has also announced it will show a Concept Legacy Sedan at the upcoming North American International Auto Show (Jan. 11, 2009) to showcase a potential direction for the model that celebrates 20 years of U.S. sales and production in 2009.

Tim Colbeck, vice president of sales for Subaru of America said, "To post increased sales for the year the Industry has just experienced reflects the strength of our products, our dealers and the Subaru brand. In a difficult market we were able to establish new sales records for Forester, Impreza and Legacy sedan and also record our highest market share ever."

Tom Doll, executive vice president for Subaru of America said, "Our 2008 sales results are tribute not only to our product offerings, but also to the commitment, perseverance and dedication of our retail sales network. Our strategy was to concentrate on building our brand image and also to leverage the value, performance and utility of our products rather than focus on "selling the deal", and that strategy has allowed us to significantly outperform the market."

                  December                   December YTD
               2008     2007    %chg       2008       2007    %chg
    Legacy     1824     2066   -11.7%     22596      21094     7.1%
    Outback*   4067     5831   -30.3%     44280      57334   -22.8%
    Impreza    4192     5376   -22.0%     49098      46333     6.0%
    Forester   6499     3992    62.8%     60748      44530    36.4%
    Tribeca     705     1471   -52.1%     10975      16790   -34.6%
    Baja          0        3  -100.0%         2       1127   -99.8%
    Total    17,287   18,739    -7.7%   187,699    187,208     0.3%

    * Includes Legacy Wagon

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of nearly 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru makes the best-selling All-Wheel Drive car sold in America based on R.L. Polk & Co. new vehicle retail registration statistics calendar year-end 2007. In addition, Subaru boasts the most fuel efficient line-up of all-wheel drive products sold in the market today based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy standards. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit www.subaru.com.

Contact:

Michael McHale

Subaru of America, Inc.

856-488-3326

[email protected]

Heather Ward

Subaru of America, Inc.

856-488-5093

[email protected]