What was Subaru originally called?
Subaru’s origins trace to Fuji Heavy Industries, the company that would become Subaru Corporation. The Subaru brand name was adopted for its vehicles, and the corporate parent was later renamed Subaru Corporation in 2019. The name Subaru itself comes from the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster.
Origins and branding
To understand Subaru’s beginnings, it helps to know how the brand and the corporate identity came together in postwar Japan.
Key milestones in Subaru's origin and branding are outlined below.
- 1953: Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) is formed through the merger of several Japanese manufacturers with roots in aviation and heavy industry, laying the groundwork for Subaru’s automotive division.
- Throughout the 1950s: The Subaru name begins to appear on vehicles produced by the company, establishing Subaru as the brand for its cars.
- 1958: The Subaru 360, a small, affordable car, becomes Subaru’s first mass-produced model and a milestone in Japan’s postwar automotive era.
- 2019: Fuji Heavy Industries changes its corporate name to Subaru Corporation, while the Subaru brand remains the primary identity for the company’s automotive activities worldwide.
These milestones show how Subaru’s branding evolved from a corporate division into a global automotive brand, anchored by a name linked to a cherished star cluster.
Meaning behind the name and logo
The word “Subaru” is the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster, and the six-star logo used on Subaru vehicles represents this cluster. The branding emphasizes unity and a sense of shared heritage among the company’s various engineering roots.
In addition to branding, the corporate transition in 2019—renaming Fuji Heavy Industries to Subaru Corporation—was part of a broader effort to align the parent company’s identity with its flagship automotive brand worldwide.
Additional context on branding and corporate identity
While Subaru refers to the automotive brand, the corporate entity’s name has changed to better reflect its global market focus. The Subaru brand continues to be the face of the company’s cars across markets, with the corporate name signaling broader industrial activities beyond automobiles.
Summary
Subaru began as the automobile division of Fuji Heavy Industries, adopting the Subaru name for its cars. The brand’s identity is tied to the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster, and in 2019 the parent company was renamed Subaru Corporation to align with the brand’s global presence.
What is Subaru also known as?
Subaru is the automobile division of Subaru Corporation (formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries). The six stars symbolize the five companies that merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries in 1953.
What is the origin of the name Subaru?
“SUBARU” signifies a Japanese word meaning “unite,” as well as a term identifying a cluster of six stars, which the Greeks called the Pleiades – part of the Taurus constellation. According to Greek mythology, Atlas' daughters turned into this group of stars.
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Is Subaru still owned by Toyota?
Subaru operates as an independent company despite Toyota's 20% stake. This allows Subaru to produce platforms, engines, transmissions, drivetrains, and other technologies independently of Toyota, except on partnership projects.
Is the Subaru logo the seven sisters?
The Subaru logo features six stars, arranged in a distinctive pattern that represents the Pleiades star cluster. The Pleiades, often referred to as the “Seven Sisters,” is a group of stars located in the Taurus constellation. In Japan, the Pleiades is known as Subaru, and this is where the company derives its name.
