Other Japanese models (Pleo, Traviq, Sambar)

[Jenna Olson]

Hello all-

If you go to Subaru's Japanese website (www.subaru.co.jp), they show three
other models that as far as I can tell have never seen the light of day in
America, the Pleo, the Traviq, and the Sambar. Looking at the pictures, I
can't figure out why they don't sell them...the Pleo seems like it'd be a
much cheaper version of the Mini Cooper, the Sambar seems like it'd give the
Ford Ranger pickup a run, and the Traviq would be good competition to any
minivan.

Any idea why these aren't available in the US?

Just wondering,

Jenna

 

[Orienteer]

The Traviq is in fact a GM Europe model (Opel/Vauxhall Zafira), but
assembled in Thailand. GM owns 20% of Subaru. It is not AWD.

 

[Brian]

If you go to Subaru's Japanese website (www.subaru.co.jp), they show three
other models that as far as I can tell have never seen the light of day in
America, the Pleo, the Traviq, and the Sambar.

There are a whole bunch of different Japanese cars that would be really cool
to have that will never make it over here. Mainly because there is no market
for them or it is not worth spending the extra $ to make them left-hand
drive, or pass North American emissions and crash tests. That or the
production volume is too low.

Brian

 

[Edward J. Neth]

It is not designed by Subaru. It's an Opel design built by GM Thailand and
sold by Subaru in Japan.

GM will soon sell the Subaru Forester in India as the Chevrolet Forester -
there's a lot of transnational branding going on between GM and its
affiliates.

 

[Victor Roberts]

It is not designed by Subaru. It's an Opel design built by GM Thailand and
sold by Subaru in Japan.

GM will soon sell the Subaru Forester in India as the Chevrolet Forester -
there's a lot of transnational branding going on between GM and its
affiliates.

And then there is the 2004 AWD Saab (another GM division) that is
being built by Subaru.

 

[Anthony]

And then there is the 2004 AWD Saab (another GM division) that is
being built by Subaru.

Do you have a link for that?

Tony