1. Home
  2. Subaru Cars Forum
  3. Other Japanese models (Pleo, Traviq, Sambar)

Other Japanese models (Pleo, Traviq, Sambar)

Hello all-

If you go to Subaru's Japanese website

formatting link
they show three other models that as far as I can tell have never seen the light of day in America, the Pleo, the Traviq, and the Sambar. Looking at the pictures, I can't figure out why they don't sell them...the Pleo seems like it'd be a much cheaper version of the Mini Cooper, the Sambar seems like it'd give the Ford Ranger pickup a run, and the Traviq would be good competition to any minivan.

Any idea why these aren't available in the US?

Just wondering,

Jenna

Reply to
Jenna Olson
Loading thread data ...

The Traviq is in fact a GM Europe model (Opel/Vauxhall Zafira), but assembled in Thailand. GM owns 20% of Subaru. It is not AWD.

Reply to
Orienteer

"Jenna Olson" wrote

There are a whole bunch of different Japanese cars that would be really cool to have that will never make it over here. Mainly because there is no market for them or it is not worth spending the extra $ to make them left-hand drive, or pass North American emissions and crash tests. That or the production volume is too low.

Brian

Reply to
Brian

It is not designed by Subaru. It's an Opel design built by GM Thailand and sold by Subaru in Japan.

GM will soon sell the Subaru Forester in India as the Chevrolet Forester - there's a lot of transnational branding going on between GM and its affiliates.

Reply to
Edward J. Neth

And then there is the 2004 AWD Saab (another GM division) that is being built by Subaru.

-- Vic Roberts

Reply to
Victor Roberts

Do you have a link for that?

Tony

Reply to
Anthony

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.