20 millionth Subaru rolls off production line

Subaru has produced its 20 millionth vehicle in Japan.

Subaru has produced its 20 millionth vehicle in Japan since the company began car manufacture 56 years ago.

Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), the company which owns Subaru, began producing vehicles under the Subaru name in 1958, where a factory in the Gunma prefecture produced the Subaru 360 mini car.

FHI President, Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, said: "This remarkable achievement of 20 million-unit domestic production would not have been possible without our esteemed customers and the years of diligent work by our employees, past and present."

"I am humbled and sincerely grateful. From here, we enter a new phase of our adventure, a new challenge. We will aim for further improvement in every aspect of our operation, in safety, quality and productivity."

Production of the 360 opened the floodgates towards the iconic Legacy, Impreza and Forester, while Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel-drive system has been in use since 1972 in both road and rally competition.

The Subaru 360 was the first mass produced car made by Subaru.

HISTORY OF SUBARU PRODUCTION IN JAPAN

1958: Production of Subaru 360 begins at Gunma Isesaki Plant

1960: Gunma Plants established; Gunma Main Plant begins production

1968: Subaru vehicle exports begin Subaru 360 to United States

1969: Gunma Yajima Plant begins production

1970: Production of one million vehicles

1975: Production of two million vehicles

1983: Gunma Oizumi Plant begins production

1983: Production of five million vehicles

1992: Production of 10 million vehicles

2003: Production of 15 million vehicles

2012: Mini-vehicle production ends. (Total mini-vehicle production: 7,967,801 vehicles).

2014: Cumulative production of 20 million vehicles