Why does Subaru have six stars?
The six-star emblem on Subaru vehicles stems from the brand’s connection to the Pleiades star cluster, known in Japanese as Subaru. It also reflects the historical merger that formed the company’s corporate lineage, giving the logo both celestial and corporate significance.
Origins of the emblem
Subaru’s logo is built around the Pleiades star cluster, a prominent grouping of stars in the Taurus constellation. In Japan, the cluster is called Subaru, which inspired the brand’s name. The emblem’s six stars are arranged in a compact pattern designed for easy recognition on cars and branding materials.
What the six stars represent
There are two commonly cited interpretations explaining the meaning of the six stars:
- Celestial interpretation: The stars reference the Pleiades cluster itself, tying the brand to a well-known astronomical feature and to the Japanese word Subaru.
- Corporate heritage interpretation: The six stars are said to symbolize the six companies that merged to form Fuji Heavy Industries in 1953, the corporate ancestor of Subaru’s current parent company.
In practice, these meanings reinforce Subaru's identity as a brand rooted in both ancient astronomy and corporate history, offering a dual narrative for consumers and brand enthusiasts alike.
Design and branding aspects
The emblem is crafted for strong, recognizable branding on vehicles. The current design typically shows six stars—one larger on the left and five smaller to the right—inside a blue elliptical field. This arrangement creates a distinctive silhouette that is easy to reproduce on grilles, badges, and promotional materials.
Some explanations note that the Pleiades is often described as having seven stars in popular culture, but the Subaru logo intentionally uses six stars to emphasize a clean, balanced mark suitable for branding and to reflect the six-part corporate origin story rather than a literal astronomical count.
Modern usage and branding continuity
Subaru has maintained the six-star emblem across decades and markets. It remains a central element of the brand’s identity, appearing on vehicle fronts, corporate signage, and advertising to signal heritage, unity, and reliability.
Summary
Subaru’s six-star logo is a deliberate blend of astronomy and corporate history. It nods to the Pleiades star cluster (Subaru in Japanese) and, in many accounts, to the merger of six companies that formed Fuji Heavy Industries in 1953. The result is a distinctive, enduring symbol that reinforces brand identity and a sense of unity across Subaru’s vehicles and corporate communications.
