Subaru announces organizational changes and new quality reforms are coming. What does it mean for top models like Outback and Forester?
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Subaru has been hit with lawsuits, numerous recalls, and the automaker has seen a drop in quality the past few years. It’s due to record growth because compact car shoppers are buying record numbers of the brand’s vehicles like Outback and Forester models that are fuel-efficient, affordable, safe, and offer all-wheel-drive, all-weather capability. It’s a good formula but with the record growth comes growing pains.
Subaru has a plan to correct the quality issues and has announced they are bringing in organizational changes and new quality reforms are coming. Subaru will do this in the home country at their main factory in Gunma, Japan where they make the 2020 Forester, Crosstrek, WRX, WRX STI, and BRZ. Reforms are also coming to its Lafayette, Indiana plant where they manufacture the 2020 Outback, Ascent, Impreza, and Legacy models.
Subaru says they will “strengthening internal controls and governance” and will enhance the effectiveness of internal controls and risk management by making a change in reporting lines. The automaker will make its Internal Audit Department independent from the Risk Management Group. Subaru says this will be overseen by the Chief Risk Management Officer, “with the aim of enhancing the effectiveness of internal controls by ensuring organizational independence of the department.”
The most important change will possibly be in how Subaru plans to advance quality reforms at its companies in Japan and around the world. Subaru Corporation will establish a newly formed Quality Assurance Management Office that will be operational as of April 1, 2020.
The new Quality Assurance office will be under the direct control of the Executive Vice President, Atsushi Osaki (Chief Quality Officer). Osaki will oversee group-wide quality assurance and develop and manage the Subaru Group’s organizational structure and systems required to assure quality, maintaining their effectiveness, and continually improving them, the announcement said.
Subaru will also appoint two new officers to lead the Engineering, Customer service divisions, and another will be the President of the Subaru Indiana Automotive plant.
What does it mean for new car shoppers?
As Subaru puts an emphasis on quality, customers should see fewer problems with the brand’s new cars coming out of Japan and its plant in the U.S. Toyota increased its stake in Subaru to 20 percent earlier this year and this should also help Subaru advance quality in the top-selling Subaru Outback, Forester, Ascent, and Crosstrek models. Stay tuned.
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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his reports are archived on our Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Subaru Report. Check back tomorrow for more Subaru news and updates at Torque News!
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Photo credit: Subaru
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This sounds like I should
This sounds like I should wait at least 2 years before buying a Subaru Outback. While they’re at it maybe they should revamp whatever department is responsible for the horrendous infotainment system in the 2020 Outback! The same system as in the Ascent would have been just fine. And this is coming from someone who actually wants to buy one.
Yes. I agree the the timeline
Yes. I agree the the timeline for setting up Quality Assurance committee or whatever they call it does not Invite confidence or expectation in a quick
material turn around. April 1st!? Seriously!? When will it percolate into defect free manufacturing output? Some bureaucratic jumbo mumbo. And yes, the info center is the thing that kept me from moving ahead with buying 2020 Outback. It's too much part of the experience to make a compromise on being uncomfortable with that system.
This sounds like I should
This sounds like I should wait at least 2 years before buying a Subaru Outback. While they’re at it maybe they should revamp whatever department is responsible for the horrendous infotainment system in the 2020 Outback! The same system as in the Ascent would have been just fine. And this is coming from someone who actually wants to buy one.
I'll believe it when I see it
I'll believe it when I see it.
I have no interest in buying a vehicle with perpetual cracking windshields. Replacing them at my cost with another that breaks, is just ridiculous.
I'm glad they are suffering multiple lawsuits.
I would like to see what the
I would like to see what the company plans to do for the people that currently own problematic Subaru’s now ?. How about Deep discounts on the new, fresh,confident Subaru’s to come. So it sounds to me that after all the pain and aggravation they finally admit to selling trouble.