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Old 04-23-2009, 08:35 PM   #1801
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Could you explain, at a high level, what the localization process for Subaru cars looks like? Is it top-down from FHI or SOJ? What happens first, second, third, etc in the process? Who is driving the process? Is it dominated by the compliance folks (safety and EPA related concerns, etc), the marketing folks (determining what models get which creature comforts, playing badge switcharoo games, etc), or is it the engineers (let's make the 2009 WRX stronger, 6 speed to the LGT, etc)?

Or, is there a link out there you can point me to that explains all this? Thanks in advance.
You're asking for the secret sauce...

In truth it's all that you say. More and more, sadly (or not) legislation is affecting car design... even to how the exhaust sounds...

But generally, we meet (engineering, marketing, market research, compliance, sales, FHI, SOA) and discuss where the market is going, where our core strengths can make a mark in the market, at what price we can sell our car and make a buck, what options the customer wants and how many we could sell (and if it makes good business sense etc).

Then new models get proposed, accepted in rough form and then get refined in terms of design, technology, content etc as the on-sale date gets closer. We do clinics, get third party research done etc to try to get as close to an offering the market wants as possible.

That's pretty generic but that's about it for most car companies.
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Old 04-23-2009, 09:09 PM   #1802
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After seeing some video I am really excited for the 2010 Legacy. They are basically learning from the successes they had with the redesign of the Forester and bringing them over to the Legacy/Outback. Rear legroom should be much better and the bluetooth/wireless capabilities are pretty sweet. From what I was told, they drive very well. Also, the Outback's offroad capabilities were improved via shorter overhangs front/rear (better approach angles). My hope is that this will also help with turn-in during aggressive driving (don't know if actual weight beyond the wheels changed much). The electronic parking brake in conjuction with the hillholder can make the car much easier to operate on really steep inclines/declines. The top models should make some of the 40-50k car buyers really reconsider weather they want the extra cost of a logo and some wood.
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Old 04-23-2009, 11:08 PM   #1803
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SoA blog: what is your job at SoA? I only ask out of curiousity? Are you in marketing, research or something else?

...or are you the official SoA spokesperson on nasioc? :-)
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Old 04-24-2009, 12:35 AM   #1804
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Originally Posted by shemoves View Post
The top models should make some of the 40-50k car buyers really reconsider weather they want the extra cost of a logo and some wood.
Considering that Subaru has removed features from the Legacy that are present on even cheaper cars, I think the MY2010 will appeal less to the buyers of $40-50k cars than the BL/BP did.
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Old 04-24-2009, 12:47 AM   #1805
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SOA Blog -

I've heard conflicting things about the upcoming CVT. Can you tell me if it's developed in-house & manufactured by FHI, if it's a collaboration with JATCO, or if it uses some JATCO parts? It'd just be nice to have this set straight, "for the record". Thought this may be the kind of answer that would be OK to share regarding an upcoming product. Thanks.
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We haven't confirmed anything about future transmission systems.. sorry.
Now that the future transmission system has been confirmed, I'll re-pose my question.
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Old 04-24-2009, 01:36 AM   #1806
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SOA Blog:

Has 2009 Legacy production ceased yet? When are the first 2010's expected to hit US shores... September??

Also, you stated that the 2010 Legacy was designed with the USDM predominantly in mind, was there much design/engineering work (other than process engineering) done state side? (Similar to how Toyota and Honda are starting to open more and more R&D locations in the US)
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Old 04-24-2009, 07:03 AM   #1807
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Now that the future transmission system has been confirmed, I'll re-pose my question.
It's an in-house design.
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Old 04-24-2009, 07:05 AM   #1808
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SoA blog: what is your job at SoA? I only ask out of curiousity? Are you in marketing, research or something else?

...or are you the official SoA spokesperson on nasioc? :-)
Corporate Commmunications. We look after media relations which includes all published third party stuff such as magazines, TV, web, blogs etc.
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Old 04-24-2009, 07:07 AM   #1809
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Originally Posted by im2lazy789 View Post
SOA Blog:

Has 2009 Legacy production ceased yet? When are the first 2010's expected to hit US shores... September??

Also, you stated that the 2010 Legacy was designed with the USDM predominantly in mind, was there much design/engineering work (other than process engineering) done state side? (Similar to how Toyota and Honda are starting to open more and more R&D locations in the US)
They are made here so no shores to hit.. but late Summer. We have some R/D here and they provide a very valuable resource to the program, (it's quite a Plum job...) but most is done in Japan.
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Old 04-24-2009, 08:44 AM   #1810
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Last edited by FatChanceTi; 04-24-2009 at 08:48 AM. Reason: fat fingers...
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Old 04-24-2009, 10:44 AM   #1811
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SOA Blog View Post
Corporate Commmunications. We look after media relations which includes all published third party stuff such as magazines, TV, web, blogs etc.
So, let me get this straight.... You get paid to read and respond to blogs and car magazines, work with TV stations and web sites, and accumulate a vast technical knowledge of Subaru's current and future cars??

Seriously, do you guys have any openings? I have an engineering degree and an MBA, live in Philadelphia, and would take a huge pay cut to get to do this for a living!

Heck, I pretty much do it for free now! I've lost track of how many Subaru's I've convinced friends and family to buy.

Elliot
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Old 04-24-2009, 01:34 PM   #1812
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I got an MBA as well and a degree in marketing... sign me up!
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Old 04-24-2009, 04:09 PM   #1813
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Couldn't resist it.
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Old 04-24-2009, 04:14 PM   #1814
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So, let me get this straight.... You get paid to read and respond to blogs and car magazines, work with TV stations and web sites, and accumulate a vast technical knowledge of Subaru's current and future cars??

Seriously, do you guys have any openings? I have an engineering degree and an MBA, live in Philadelphia, and would take a huge pay cut to get to do this for a living!

Heck, I pretty much do it for free now! I've lost track of how many Subaru's I've convinced friends and family to buy.

Elliot


Well it beats working in a coal mine. We do get paid, but as we've said before... not for the night calls. No one is hiring right now but I know dealers are always looking for good guys. Plus, you wouldn't really want to work here - that'd ruin the magic.. kind of like working at Disney.. you'd get to see the spotty kid in the mouse suit...
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Old 04-24-2009, 04:30 PM   #1815
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Plus, you wouldn't really want to work here - that'd ruin the magic.. kind of like working at Disney.. you'd get to see the spotty kid in the mouse suit...

That's what all you SOA guys say! I think you guys are really a cult and just don't want any "outsiders" to expose who/what you really are!
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Old 04-24-2009, 04:41 PM   #1816
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That's what all you SOA guys say! I think you guys are really a cult and just don't want any "outsiders" to expose who/what you really are!
A few years back when I got my MBA, I was at a career fair and met the Cherry Hill SOA HR manager. She said they have really, really low employee turnover.

Do you guys still get a free lease on any Subie of your choice every 2 years?

Something tells me it's WAY better than a coal mine there
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Old 04-24-2009, 04:42 PM   #1817
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eps105 View Post
So, let me get this straight.... You get paid to read and respond to blogs and car magazines, work with TV stations and web sites, and accumulate a vast technical knowledge of Subaru's current and future cars??

Seriously, do you guys have any openings? I have an engineering degree and an MBA, live in Philadelphia, and would take a huge pay cut to get to do this for a living!

Heck, I pretty much do it for free now! I've lost track of how many Subaru's I've convinced friends and family to buy.

Elliot
Quote:
Originally Posted by SOA Blog View Post


Well it beats working in a coal mine. We do get paid, but as we've said before... not for the night calls. No one is hiring right now but I know dealers are always looking for good guys. Plus, you wouldn't really want to work here - that'd ruin the magic.. kind of like working at Disney.. you'd get to see the spotty kid in the mouse suit...
Wait, this dude's offering to take a big pay cut TO DO YOUR JOB!!! Better not let upper management get a whif o' this!

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Old 04-24-2009, 04:50 PM   #1818
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Wait, this dude's offering to take a big pay cut TO DO YOUR JOB!!! Better not let upper management get a whif o' this!

Oh, he'd work for free for a while.. but then market forces would soon start to come into play. He'd be asking for a pay rise... we all gotta eat.
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Old 04-24-2009, 04:50 PM   #1819
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Old 04-24-2009, 04:52 PM   #1820
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A few years back when I got my MBA, I was at a career fair and met the Cherry Hill SOA HR manager. She said they have really, really low employee turnover.

Do you guys still get a free lease on any Subie of your choice every 2 years?

Something tells me it's WAY better than a coal mine there
We do have low turnover - honestly, it's a good place to work. All jobs can drive you nuts sometimes but SOA is good people.

And no.. the car lease isn't free.
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Old 04-24-2009, 04:54 PM   #1821
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Bob
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Old 04-24-2009, 04:55 PM   #1822
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kind of like working at Disney.. you'd get to see the spotty kid in the mouse suit...
I know what you mean with the Mouse suit comment. I design videogames and have been in the industry for 15 years now. People assume "that must be a fun job" and think that we sit around and play all day, but in the end, its a job with politics, long hours, lots of planning, and plenty of under appreciation just like any other job...
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Old 04-24-2009, 05:01 PM   #1823
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Oh, he'd work for free for a while.. but then market forces would soon start to come into play. He'd be asking for a pay rise... we all gotta eat.
Yep, but there's a fresh batch of interns every year! And with more people deferring retirement now, there are fewer job openings for those interns to move into! Free labor will just be stacking up... they're comin' to take our jobs, man!!!
After that, it'll devolve into an intern-eat-intern world. And after that, things'll go pretty much Planet of the Apes, more or less.
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Old 04-24-2009, 05:03 PM   #1824
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Yep, but there's a fresh batch of interns every year! And with more people deferring retirement now, there are fewer job openings for those interns to move into! Free labor will just be stacking up... they're comin' to take our jobs, man!!!
After that, it'll devolve into an intern-eat-intern world. And after that, things'll go pretty much Planet of the Apes, more or less.
Free labor is no substitute for talent and experience.

Bob
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Old 04-24-2009, 05:31 PM   #1825
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I know what you mean with the Mouse suit comment. I design videogames and have been in the industry for 15 years now. People assume "that must be a fun job" and think that we sit around and play all day, but in the end, its a job with politics, long hours, lots of planning, and plenty of under appreciation just like any other job...
Grandma's boy FTW!!!
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