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Subaru Announces August Sales

1 September 1998

Subaru Announces Best Sales Month Since 1989; Company Maintains Sales Momentum for Eighth Consecutive Month in 1998

    CHERRY HILL, N.J., Sept. 1 -- Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA)
today announced its August sales figures -- best total sales month since 1989
and best retail August sales month since 1987.  Subaru recorded a sales total
of 14,068 units for the month of August, up over 9 percent versus August 1997.
Overall, year-to-date 1998 totals are 16 percent above the same period in
1997.  August sales represented the eighth consecutive month of sales growth
in 1998.
    The Legacy model line led sales with 8,219 units posted.  The Outback
accounted for 5,353 units of the Legacy line-up, an increase of 11 percent
over the same period last year.  August Outback sales mark the second best
Outback sales month ever.
    In addition to strong wagon sales, the company posted strong sedan sales,
up 22 percent over last year.  The newest Subaru hybrid, the Legacy Sport
Utility Sedan, accounted for 487 units sold.
    Forester had its fifth consecutive month of sales growth and its best
sales month ever with 3,961 units posted.
    Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy
Industries Ltd. of Japan.  Headquartered near Philadelphia, the company
markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a
network of nearly 610 franchised dealers across the United States.  All Legacy
models sold in the U.S., including the Outback and Sport Utility Sedan, are
produced at the company's American manufacturing plant, Subaru-Isuzu
Automotive, Inc., near Lafayette, Ind.  In 1998, Subaru celebrates 30 years in
the U.S. market, having sold over three million vehicles.