1953   Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) is formed.

1954   FHI P-1 automotive prototype is unveiled.

1958   Subaru 360 is introduced, becoming an instant best-seller.

1966   Subaru 1000 is introduced, highlighted by the company's first use of a horizontally-opposed BOXER engine, which would later become an integral part of the Subaru symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive system.

1972   Debut of the Subaru Leone 4WD Station Wagon - the world's first mass-produced four-wheel drive passenger car.

1977   Subaru Brat (known as "Brumby" in Australia), a recreational vehicle with a two-seater cabin and a small cargo bed, is launched, long before crossover vehicles would become mainstream.

1984   Debut of the economical Subaru Justy.

1986   Subaru full-time All-Wheel Drive is introduced in the third-generation Leone.

1987   World's first Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) - called the Subaru ECVT (Electro-Continuously Variable Transmission) -- is introduced in the Justy.

1989   The Subaru Legacy (known as "Liberty" in Australia) - which boasts both a horizontally-opposed SUBARU BOXER engine and the latest in Subaru All-Wheel Drive - is launched to critical acclaim.

1990   First full year of World Rally Championship (WRC) participation, using the Legacy WRC.

1991   Subaru SVX high-performance luxury coupe is introduced.

1992   Subaru introduces the Impreza, which boasted the same basic engine, suspension and All-Wheel Drive system as the Legacy, but in a smaller and sportier package.

1993   Subaru World Rally Team (SWRT) - behind the wheel of the Legacy WRC -- records its first WRC win. Later that season, SWRT switched from the Legacy WRC to the Impreza WRC.

1995   SWRT earns Subaru the first of three consecutive WRC Manufacturers' Championships, cementing the Impreza WRC's reputation as a rally icon.

1995   With the practicality and handling of a wagon and the safety and ground clearance of a sport utility vehicle, Subaru starts a new trend towards crossover vehicles with the introduction of the Outback. 

1997   Subaru introduces the Forester, a compact sport utility vehicle offering the best of both worlds: the comfortable ride and handling of a sedan combined with the ruggedness of an SUV. 

2003   The second-generation Forester earns the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest possible rating in three separate crash tests - the first vehicle in the compact sport utility vehicle class to accomplish the feat.

2004   Subaru introduces the all-new Legacy and Outback for the 2005 model year. Completely redesigned and re-engineered inside and out, the new Legacy and Outback feature more power and technological sophistication than ever before and stand as the first step in Subaru's quest to become a global premium brand.



2005   Subaru Tribeca is launched in the US


Note: All dates refer to the global release of products or technology.