Subaru Pacific Recognized as Subaru Eco-Friendly Dealer
Subaru of America, Inc. has been a strong advocate for the environment. Not only do they pride themselves in selling high-quality vehicles, they have implemented key measures, from the dealership to manufacturing, to help protect the world we live in. One example is the Subaru Eco-Friendly Dealer Program that sees Subaru dealers reduce their carbon footprint on a daily basis.
Subaru Pacific is the only dealership in California to receive the Subaru Eco-Friendly award. The dealership has reached Eco-Friendly Dealer status by meeting five key areas in successful sustainability:
Energy Efficiency Our dealership reduced energy consumption by installing devices such as occupancy sensors, compact florescent light bulbs and programmable thermostats. Water Conservation Our dealership reduced water consumption by installing low flow faucet & toilets and water efficient landscaping. Recycling By recycling material such as paper, metal, cardboard and plastic, our dealership helps divert massive amounts of material from landfills. Waste Management Our dealership ensures proper disposal of waste material including oil, coolant, batteries and tires. Community Involvement Caring about the environment extends beyond the dealership. We are involved in community programs focused on preserving and protecting the environment. Teamwork For our dealership to achieve Subaru Eco-Friendly Dealer status, we organized an environmental team comprised of individuals from each department. The team planned and implemented the necessary changes and upgrades to our facility.On April 18th, 2013, Subaru of America, Inc. will be on site at the dealership to present the award. Look for an upcoming post with pictures from the day.
Subaru Continues To Grow Thanks To It’s Strongest Ever Lineup Of Vehicles!
There are many reasons that the newest brand and store in the LAcarGUY family is Subaru. The companies focus on the environment, the outdoor lifestyle, and giving back to the community all sync up with LAcarGUY’s values. On top of this Subaru is one of the fastest growing brands in the United States. During the downturn in the economy, and the terrible tsunami that devastated Japan, Subaru’s sales continued to grow, even as others fell off.
Subaru is like that band you’ve loved for so many years and you are baffled as to why they aren’t on everyones radar, they ARE that overnight success 30 years in the making! A combination of durability, dependability and value, along with a fresh new lineup of vehicles are just some of the reasons more and more people are discovering Subaru for the first time.
With September’s sales numbers just in Subaru’s sales year to date are up 25% over 201, year to date, and compared to September 2011, September 2012 saw a 32% increase in sales!
As we said, with newly refreshed models like the Outback, Legacy and Impreza, and the new XV Crosstrek just arriving in our showroom, and of course the highly acclaimed BRZ, it’s easy to see, with the strongest lineup in Subaru’s history, why more and more people are discovering the brand for the first time.
So many other manufactures now tout the availability of all wheel drive, like it’s something that was never available for vehicles other than trucks and large SUV’s, it is something Subaru has been offering across the product line for well over 20+ years! These years of experience are why Subaru has the most refined all wheel drive system in the industry.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to experience Subaru, we encourage you to come in for a test drive and see for yourself why your next car should be a Subaru, from Subaru Pacific!
Introducing the 2013 Subaru BRZ Sports Coupe
Extremely limited in quantity and there has been great interest so Subaru Pacific is now taking pre-orders on the 2013 Subaru BRZ. The 2013 Subaru BRZ Sports Coupe is a unique vehicle as it is the first and only mass-produced front-mounted, horizontally-opposed BOXER engine, rear-wheel drive sports car in the world. Subaru engineers designed the vehicle to be a pure sports car by keeping the weight to a minimum and giving it a super-low center of gravity thereby increasing steering precision.
Keep an eye on Subaru Pacific as the new 2013 Subaru BRZ will most likely land this summer. Be the first in the South Bay area to own the new BRZ. Fill out the order and information form today! For more information about the 2013 Subaru BRZ at Subaru Pacific, visit our dedicated BRZ page.
Meet Subaru Pacific General Manager James Hartzberg
- Give us a little background on you, your history, and what you’ve been doing with the LA Car Guy stores :
“I’ve been with Sullivan Automotive Group or LAcarGUY group of dealers since 1997. I graduated from high school and worked my way though University of Southern California with cars. I had the opportunity to work at different capacities at most of our dealers that we have in our group. I was asked a few years ago to attend the National Automobile Dealers Association, essentially a college for car dealers, in order to better my career and promote my career.”
More recently had the opportunity to be invited to be the General Manager for the Subaru Pacific store. It’s something I’m really excited about because the Subaru brand is kind of an extension of who I am; they’re a very active brand with their cyclists, with their outdoorsy, spirited and environmentally friendly people. I’ve participated in numerous triathlons and I’ve been doing them for the past six or seven years, anywhere from sprint distances to the coveted Iron Man races that so many people talk about.
Subaru’s a brand that’s also philanthropic, and very socially responsible. They do an extreme amount of dog rescues. One of their favorite charities during their “Share the Love” event, where every time a customer purchases a vehicle they have the opportunity to donate to five different charities, Special Olympics, Meals on Wheels, Make a Wish Foundation, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and American Forests. The ASPCA is very close to me and my wife, we do a lot of dog rescues and have a few dogs of our own so that’s something that’s very special to us.
As I mentioned before the Subaru brand is a very spirited, outdoorsy, adventurous brand… I consider that to be in my genre, too. I enjoy hiking and backpacking, and community involvement. I’m looking forward to growing the Subaru brand, not just in sales, but in the community. They’re heavily involved with Heal the Bay with the Sullivan Automotive Group. Our president, Mike Sullivan, is actually on the board for Heal the Bay, and being so close to the beach I think that’s something all of us in the South Bay know as a very important part of our lives. So I’m doing what I can to help bring the Subaru brand into Hermosa Beach and the South Bay.
As I mentioned. Subaru’s a very environmentally friendly company; their factory in Indiana is actually around an 850-acre wildlife preserve. It’s a zero-landfill factory, meaning all of the waste that comes out of the facility can be recycled. I’ve taken notice to that, and everything that we use to clean the cars (such as detailing products) and other chemicals, we do our best to make sure they don’t go back into the environment and become a hazard. I’ve gone through all the dealers and made sure they’re were signs next to the drains. Being so close to the ocean, everything we drain goes right back into the ocean.
All of our products are environmentally friendly and biodegradable. everything from the hand soaps, to the car-wash, to the stuff we use to clean the cars and so forth. We provide a warm atmosphere for pets, we have dog treats and water bowls, and we plan on hosting pet adoption events in the future and we plan on participating in the community with things such as surfing and triathlon events.”
- It sounds like a store that fits right in with LAcarGUY values. But is Hermosa Beach going to be the permanent location?
“This is actually our temporary location as we introduce ourselves to the South Bay, but we’ve already set our sights bigger and we’ll go from a two car showroom and a four-car service bay to a seven car showroom and a fourteen-car service bay in Torrence in approximately one year. We believe that will better accommodate our guests that are looking for sales and service in the Subaru world.
A great number of guests are already so grateful that we’re here, because there was a void in the past 15 years with regards to people being able to service and/or purchase a Subaru here in the South Bay. In the past they would have to travel south quite a ways or all the way north. We’ve had several people saying what a convenience it is for us to introduce this franchise into the South Bay. Definitely know that we’re going to continue to grow, and leverage the double-digit growth that Subaru’s had over the past 4 years.”
-What are the store hours going to be?
“Our service department will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the intention of opening on Saturday depending on demand. Our sales department will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.”
And for a little more with James:
Subaru Captures Multiple 2012 ALG Residual Value Awards
Subaru Pacific is the latest addition to the LAcarGUY family of dealers and now, Subaru of America is proud to announce that it has received three Residual Value Awards from ALG, the industry benchmark for residual values and depreciation data. The ALG Residual Value Awards recognizes annually the vehicles predicted to retain the highest percentage of original price after a three-year period.
Claiming Best Mainstream Brand for third year in a row, Subaru also earned Best Midsize Utility Vehicle and Best Midsize Car for the 2012 Subaru Outback and the 2012 Subaru Legacy, respectively. Award winners are determined through careful study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand, and pricing and marketing strategies remain the key factors that affect ALG’s residual value forecasts.
“The Legacy’s standard all-wheel drive, above average fuel economy and spacious interior appeal to a wide swath of the market, helping to keep demand high,” said Raj Sundaram, for ALG. “With the bawny new generation of Outback, Subaru continues to build on its reputation for delivering what consumers want in a crossover, the handling of a car with great utility and roomy interiors.”
“Subaru is proud to be recognized as a brand that builds safe and reliable vehicles that deliver on our mobility promise and retain value for our owners,” said Thomas J. Doll, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “We are honored to have, again, received ALG Residual Value Awards for our brand and two of our popular Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles.”
Of the Best Mainstream Brand win, ALG remarked: “Subaru continues to draw fiercely loyal devotees who appreciate the brand’s strong quality and ability to remain practical yet progressive in its redesigns. Dependably low incentives and fleet sales have also enhanced its used market image, helping it to maintain the top spot for mainstream brand for the third year in a row.”
LAcarGUY opens Subaru Dealership in the South Bay
www.SubaruPacific.com
Los Angeles – December 1, 2011 – LAcarGUY is pleased to announce the addition of Subaru Pacific to its family of dealerships. Subaru Pacific, LAcarGUY’s eleventh dealership, will open its doors December 5th, 2011 in Hermosa Beach, and will then move to its permanent location in Torrance the following year. Subaru has not had a presence in the South Bay for fifteen years, but Mike Sullivan, President of LAcarGUY, believes the time is right to bring this iconic brand home.
“As our eleventh LAcarGUY dealership, we think Subaru Pacific is an absolute natural fit for us. Subaru owners exemplify the independent spirit and active lifestyle of southern California, as does Subaru Pacific’s new General Manager (and Triathlete), James Hartzberg. In addition, Subaru’s long history of environmental commitment aligns with LAcarGUY’s mission,” said Mike Sullivan.
“The South Bay has been a great market for Subaru for years, so in searching for the right dealer, we didn’t want to settle for “really good” we wanted “great” said Bill Cypers, Subaru of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales. Cypers’, in town for the unveiling of Subaru’s BRZ sporty coup at the L.A. Auto Show, went on to say, “ Though we had several excellent candidates seeking to represent Subaru in the South Bay, Mike Sullivan’s LAcarGUY stood out among the rest due to his wonderful reputation in both the local community and automotive industry.
LAcarGUY has always been a champion of sustainable mobility and like Subaru of America, is committed to a greener future. Since 2003, Subaru has offered certified Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEV) including Legacy, Outback and Forester models that meet California’s Super-Ultra-Low-Emission vehicle exhaust standard and Subaru’s Indiana manufacturing plant became the first automotive assembly facility to be “zero landfill,” setting a precedent for the industry. Subaru also manufactures the most fuel efficient all wheel drive vehicle in America – the all-new 2012 Subaru Impreza.
Involvement in the community is another commitment shared by LAcarGUY and Subaru Both companies are known for their generous support of local organizations and non-profits in the areas in which they operate. In addition, LAcarGUY and Subaru have each achieved double-digit growth that they hope to maintain in order to have a positive impact on the local economy.
About LAcarGUY
The LAcarGUY family of dealerships has been a Los Angeles fixture since “Sully” Sullivan opened his first dealership, Volkswagen Santa Monica in 1964. Today, LAcarGUY includes 10 award-winning dealerships throughout Los Angeles and a state-of-the-art body shop. Known for its outstanding customer service, long-term relationships, and word-of-mouth marketing, LAcarGUY is the first choice when shopping for a new or used car. As a local family-owned business, LAcarGUY is recognized as a prominent supporter of community events, charitable organizations and environmental causes. As the number one hybrid dealer in the world, LAcarGUY is proud to lead the industry to a greener automotive future.
About Subaru of America
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 600 dealers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit www.subaru.com.
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