Subaru sales to Mena and CIS dive by 50%

Japanese car maker Subaru yesterday reported a steep decline in sales in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The company, a subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries, sold only 21,294 units in the Mena and CIS regions last year compared with 41,543 in 2008 – a drop of almost 50 per cent.

"The drop was mainly because of the recession, especially in Russia and other CIS countries where sales declined steeply," Fuji Mena and CIS Assistant Manager Keisuke Kanamori told Emirates Business. He said sales in North America and China increased considerably. In North America, 239,686 units were sold in 2009 compared with 207,743 in 2008. The company sold 35,348 units in China last year compared with 19,010 units the previous year.

Kanamori was speaking on the sidelines of an event held to re-launch the Subaru brand in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain with a new exclusive distributor, Al Adiyat Automobiles.

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