Subaru's U.S. offensive begins, new CEO appointed
Just one day after Subaru revealed that the U.S. market would play a pivotal role in its new five-year plan, the company has announced a new leader for Subaru of America. Effective April 1st, Tomohiko Ikeda (shown) will assume the role of CEO of Subaru of America, replacing Kunio Ishigami who held the post since June of 2004. Ishigami is retiring after leading Subie to three record sales years in a row and achieving 200,000 sales in 2006. Ikeda had already worked for Subaru of America as vice president from 1988 to 2002 before becoming corporate vice president of Fuji Heavy Industries according to Automotive News, so the man has some insight into what makes the automaker's U.S. unit run.
[Source: Automotive News, Subaru]
PRESS RELEASE:
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. NAMES NEW CHAIRMAN
--Ishigami retires after leading company to three consecutive sales records--
CHERRY HILL, N.J., March 1, 2007 -- Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that Mr. Tomohiko Ikeda has been appointed chairman, president and chief executive officer effective April 1. Mr. Ikeda succeeds Mr. Kunio Ishigami who served as the chairman, president and chief executive officer since June 2004.
Mr. Ishigami led the company to three consecutive record sales years and also achieved the corporate milestone of 200,000 unit annual sales in 2006. Mr. Ishigami has been with Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the parent company of Subaru, for 38 years and has held a variety of management roles. Mr. Ishigami will be returning to Japan as Advisor to FHI.
Mr. Tomohiko Ikeda has been with FHI for 30 years. Before being appointed to his new role at Subaru of America, he most recently served as corporate vice president for FHI. Prior to this role, Mr. Ikeda served as vice president for Subaru of America, Inc. at its headquarters in Cherry Hill, N.J., from 1998-2002, where he was responsible for business planning, the management of capital assets, as well as the sales and marketing coordination with FHI.
Prior to this position, Mr. Ikeda served in the Subaru Overseas Division of FHI from 1992 -1997. He was the manager for North America sales and marketing, and prior to that he served as the manager of Asia, Oceania and Latin America sales and marketing for the Overseas Division.
Mr. Ikeda also held a number of positions in the training, finance and accounting areas of the company. He began his career with FHI in 1977 as a staff member in the personnel section on the FHI Utsunomiya manufacturing plant. Mr. Ikeda received a bachelor's degree in political science from Waseda University in Japan.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
doglet 6:51PM (3/01/2007)
maybe new leadership is what is needed to make their cars look good.
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Bennet Pullen 7:03PM (3/01/2007)
I don't get why everybody is bashing the way Subies look so much. It's true the Tribeca is hideous, but that's just one model.
The legacy is my favorite looking mid-size sedan/wagon (excluding the luxury makes).
The Forester isn't a bad looking car. A little dated maybe now that SUVs are no longer in vogue.
I quite like the Impreza with the alpha grille on it quite a bit, and the last version wasn't bad looking either.
I honestly think the biggest problem with Subaru is all-wheel-drive. Subaru's just can not compete on the gas mileage front, and that is what a lot of people are looking for these days, especially in a Japanese car.
On the other hand where I live in the Pacific Northwest about every 5th car on the road is an Outback wagon, so they aren’t having any issues here.
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why not the LS2/LS7? 7:09PM (3/01/2007)
Legacy 2.5 GT spec B wagon. Put a six speed in if possible. And I need bluetooth handsfree.
I'll pay cash.
I'm waiting Subie.
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Howard Kerr 7:16PM (3/01/2007)
I'm not sure harping on the looks is the way to go either. It'd isnt like Subies look as bad as the old Saturns did.
It's too bad Subaru can't somehow come up with an affordable "cult car". A car that does for Subaru, what the Mustang does for Ford...or better yet, what the CRX did for Honda.
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Richard 10:09PM (3/01/2007)
Howard,
Isn't that what a WRX tr is?
Perhaps it depends on your definition of affordable...perhaps you're thinking of something more "Scion-ish."
But, based on the reputed loyalty of the core Subaru consumer (I am on my fifth) I would say that they need to move beyond cult car status.
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KJC 10:10PM (3/01/2007)
The Legacy 3.0R is coming later this year. : )
Subaru has some nice cars; Legacy, WRX, Outback.
Hopefully, with Toyota's help Subaru will become more aggresive with their dealers, marketing, and lineup.
It would be great if some Toyota dealers were partnered with Subaru.
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Kendall Tawes 11:29PM (3/01/2007)
I think if they brought some nice compacts like the old just to the American market they could undercut many other US auto makers that are still banging their heads on the table with cars that suck down gas and will not dare put anything decent under the hood of smaller cars. Maybe they could make some diesel Legacys and Outbacks to help their all-wheel drive fuel economy. In any case they are great cars now but if they brought back some of their ideas from the '80s it would be rather nice.
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Tarditi 7:39AM (3/02/2007)
Subaru makes good cars - they don't produce the volume of Toyota or Honda, though, and the marketing is pretty sparse (at least in my area). I got my first Subaru (WRX Wagon) a few weeks ago and have been quite impressed - the general public simply doesn't know much about the brand... what they do remember is being bombarded by Paul Hogan aka Crocodile Dundee with cheezy Outback ads trying to woo SUV customers over.
That said, the Tribecca was too extreme of a styling for a quiet car company to produce. A little more focus group testing may have saved them some grief.
In addition, finally coming out with an aux input on the OEM radio in 2007 is a little behind the times. They need to really step up their interiors (which I find quite comfortable and accomodating, just a little old school) with the competition. My friend's 2001 Accord Coupe has a wonderful interior for the class of car, for instance.
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Dr. Woo 7:59AM (3/02/2007)
Five words for this guy.
GET RID OF SHERYL CROW
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Justin 8:15AM (3/02/2007)
#1...have you seen a Legacy GT?
I love Subaru. I hope this works out for them!
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mr.ed 8:58AM (3/02/2007)
#8
My '90 Legacy had an audio jack on the dash directly below the radio display, which I used to play CD's through, as the factory player was $700. By '92, the jack was gone, but a shallow circle was left where the die had been filled in.
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Toyota SUCKS 9:27AM (3/02/2007)
Who cares, they build ugly odd vehicles and are now partly owned by the parasites (toyota).
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Omer 9:31AM (3/02/2007)
I have test driven over 10 mid-sizes car over the last week and there is no better car out there than Subaru Legacy GT or non-GT. Legacy has more attitude and feel than generic honda Civic, accord or Toyota Camry. If you wanna have fun while getting commuting and feel safe Subaru is the brand. i live in Rochester, NY and Subaru is the most popular car here and for a good reason. They are extermely reliable, safe and most of all FUN!!!
On the other hand they need to hire same advertising company BMW and Infiniti. All they need to do is get everyone to drive their cars once....the car will sell itself.
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Rick Lyon 11:25AM (3/02/2007)
How is raising prices an 'offensive'? It's more like 'repulsive' or 'corrosive'. If your product doesn't sell you don't raise the prices! haha
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Ian Mason 5:59AM (3/05/2007)
According to Subaru's Website, their 'mission statement' is to strive for the 'highest level of customer satisfaction. They certainly are not doing that in the UK, where they charge £350 a year (about $700) for the DVD disc you need to keep maps for the on board Sat Nav in the Outback 3.0Rn up to date. I am alone in thinking this is bit over the top? When buying, check out the hidden costs first. Subaru also charge £190 ($380) a year for the underbody inspection you need to keep your warranty valid!!
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