Meet a U.S. Subaru dealer who sells more AWD cars than any country, and influenced Subaru Corp to increase the size of the new 2019 Subaru Ascent 3-Row family hauler.
Follow us today...
When you think of Subaru in the U.S. it’s Subaru of America (SOA) that comes to mind, right? But there’s a hold-over privately owned distributor from the beginning when the Japanese automaker sold U.S. distribution/dealer territories to 13 mostly independent distributors. SOA, bought most of the original distributors in the early 70s, with the exceptions of Subaru New England and Subaru Distribution Corp which covers New York and parts of New Jersey.
Subaru of New England, owned by Ernie Boch Jr., CEO of Boch Enterprises, is the independent distributor for 64 Subaru dealerships in the six New England states, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Ernie Boch Jr. sells more Subaru all-wheel-drive vehicles than any country outside of the U.S. Last year, Boch Enterprises sold close to 65,000 vehicles of the brand's U.S. total of 647,956.
Subaru New England sells more cars than Canada and Australia
Subaru New England sells more Subarus than the brand’s next largest market, Canada (54,570 vehicles sales in 2017) comprising 93 authorized Subaru dealers and third largest, Australia (52,511 vehicles in 2017) both countries setting new records in 2017. Boch Enterprises sells more than 10 percent of SOA’s total U.S. sales in the six New England states.
Who is Ernie Boch Jr.? He’s a billionaire businessman whose inherited the company from his father. He’s turned the fledgling Subaru distributorship into a huge automotive empire. He’s become the 30th richest person in Massachusetts with a net worth of $1.1 billion, according to AffluenceIQ in Winchester, Mass.
According to a report from Automotive News, Ernie Boch Jr. has made huge contributions to the brand’s success since the late 80s when he began working for his father. Ernie would frequently meet with FUJI Heavy, Subaru of America's parent company, making suggestions as to what American wanted in the Subaru vehicles.
He pushed for the shift from front-drive to exclusively all-wheel-drive vehicles and Boch Jr. says, ”In the late '80s, we stopped bringing in front-wheel drive and took exclusively AWD.” That’s when the brand created their niche market of AWD vehicles that remains a core value today.
Ernie Boch Jr. also helped determine the size of the all-new 2019 Subaru Ascent 3-Row family hauler. The billionaire told Subaru Corp it needed to be larger than the Japanese automaker originally had planned. He knows his customers and has the sales numbers to influence SOA and Subaru Corporation in Japan. “Subaru is still a boutique-y type vehicle," Boch says. "It is a great alternative vehicle. Subaru is better because of the engineering, styling and support the factory gives to the dealers. I think that Subaru is still just blossoming in the United States.”
Photo credit: Subaru of New England
Follow us today...
I bought a new 2022 Subaru
I bought a new 2022 Subaru Ascent in December of 2021 from Atlantic Subaru. I had the dealer add rain guards to the vehicle and asked where they recommend I get tint added as they did not provide the service. After repeated attempts, the rain guards leaked continuously. The last time I had them replaced, the techs at Atlantic Subaru used what appeared to be a screw driver and brake cleaner to remove the adhesive. They then simply spray painted the trim. The brake cleaner has eaten through the five coats of ceramic wax that I applied at home and also ate through my clear coat. I pointed out and documented damage with the dealer. The detail shop they sent the vehicle to actually wet sanded my drivers side window. I was told that all the trim had been replaced. Why would a wet sander be used on new trim? I’m now stuck with one of two options left that they said were available. I could either buy a left over 2022 and take a hit on depreciation, or buy a new 2023 and lose the $12,000 I have into the vehicle in payments, taxes, and options. I truly feel that the dealership cares little if any regarding my issue. Now I am forced to buy a new vehicle as I don’t want a damaged clear coat and future problems. I have attempted to work with the dealership, but feel I am being victimized. I DO NOT RECOMMEND purchasing anything from Atlantic Subaru. I know they will receive this, and I really am beyond caring about how they perceive my actions. I am truly disgusted as this has cost me four months without my vehicle, and every time it was returned, it was worse than before. Good luck with your experience. I recommend taking pictures of your vehicle before leaving it with this dealership. I do not feel that they aspire to what Mr. Boch wanted in his original thought of dealerships selling his product. Quality seems to have gone the way of quantity.