Skip to main content

Here's How Tom Doll Transformed Tiny Subaru into a Powerhouse by Being a Delivery Boy

How did Tom Doll transform tiny Subaru into an industry giant by being a delivery boy? It's all about the Love.
Posted:
Author: Denis Flierl
Advertising

2017 Subaru Outback, Tom Doll, Subaru Love
Advertising

Do you know who Tom Doll is? He makes deliveries in a 2017 Subaru Outback to local schools, and he’s also the guy who turned Subaru into an auto industry success. Doll is COO of Subaru of America and they just announced its donation of more than 1,700 award-winning science textbooks to 17 Camden, NJ schools, where Subaru has their US Corporate offices. Doll was the guy to help make the deliveries.

It’s what COOs do right?

It’s what this COO does. Tom Doll has been responsible for creating Subaru's brand identity that resonates with consumers that goes far beyond the dealer showroom and their automobiles. He knows how to make the Subaru brand successful, and Subaru does it many ways, one of which is donations to local schools.

Doll recently told Bloomberg that sales took off when they “stopped acting like a car company.” This is when the automaker who specializes in all-wheel-drive vehicles started the “Love“ campaign sales ads. Subaru’s customers love their all-wheel-drive vehicles. They also love it when the Japanese automaker helps in the local community. Their latest initiative is called, “Subaru Loves Learning.”

Advertising


Subaru’s sales triple since 2007

Tom Doll has been the driving force to turn Subaru into a growing and profitable automaker here in the U.S. More than 60 percent of Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) revenue and profit originates in North America, where vehicle sales volume has tripled over the past eight years. As a result of Doll’s leadership, Subaru has grown steadily from selling 187,000 vehicles in 2007, and expects to sell over 600,000 vehicles in the U.S. this year.

Tom Doll doesn’t send his underlings out to deliver the donated school books. He gets in the Blue and White “Subaru Loves Learning” 2017 Subaru Outback and helps deliver them himself. It’s a good example to other COOs on how to transform a small car company into a successful industry powerhouse. It’s all about the Love.

Source: Subaru of America

Photo: Subaru

Automotive News
Subaru
Advertising

Comments

Greg Pirkl (not verified)    June 26, 2025 - 1:21PM

Permalink

I had my windshield replaced several months BEFORE I was notified of the windshield settlement. Had I known I would have taken the proper pictures and sent them with. However, I had a $1,000 deductible on my insurance so just paid it out-of-pocket instead of making a claim. My wife says the crack was all the way across the driver's side as she was the #1 user of the vehicle.
If you KNEW there was an issue with the windshields (hence the loss in court) why did you not issue a recall and get them replaced!?!? You have LOST me as a Subaru customer for something as lousy as your company refusing to honor an honest claim with documentation even after you KNOW there is a problem! Is that $1,000 more important to you than a happy, satisfied customer?!?!
It's ok, don't cover my loss for your windshield issue because there are MANY companies that would like my business. My other vehicle is a RAM 3500 crew cab long bed diesel
Thought your company was pretty good due to your pet advocacy. Who knew that you prefer pets to customers.


Advertising