Subaru-POV-01092015

Subaru of America’s first shipment of 2015 occupies the “first place of rest” at the company’s Port of Vancouver facility. The vehicles are processed and accessorized in Vancouver for shipment and sale across the Pacific Northwest.

The Port of Vancouver USA welcomed Ann Tetreault with Subaru of America at its Jan. 27 regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners meeting. Tetreault is the site manager for Subaru’s Port of Vancouver facility, and during the meeting she shared an update on Subaru news.

Port Business Development Manager Mike Schiller welcomed Tetreault and thanked Subaru for 22 years of partnership. “The port is appreciative of the fact that Subaru is here,” he said. “[Subaru’s presence] also allows us to continue to improve infrastructure here at the port.”

Subaru has processed and transported vehicles in Vancouver since 1992. In 2014, the company processed 81,718 vehicles in Vancouver, compared to 66,000 in 2013. Tetreault shared that Subaru reached a major milestone 2014 by selling 513,693 vehicles nationwide, exceeding their original sales goal of half a million vehicles. “If you own and drive a Subaru, thank you,” Tetreault said to the audience of commissioners, port staff and citizens. “If you purchased a Subaru here in the Pacific Northwest, it’s most likely your Subaru traveled through the port and was processed in our facility.”

Subaru vehicle sales increased 21 percent over 2013, the largest increase in the company’s history. Subaru and the port met another milestone in July when the partners celebrated the one-millionth car to move through the port.

Port commission president Nancy Baker commented that she was here on staff when the first car, a 1993 Legacy station wagon, was delivered. Seeing the one-millionth car delivered this summer was special, she said. Many different models have come through the port over the years. Subaru has seven models in its current line up including, BRZ, Impreza, WRX/STi, Legacy, Forester, XV Crosstrek and hybrid, and Outback.

About 150 Subaru and Auto Warehousing employees work at the port to process vehicles for sale in the U.S. They install a variety of accessories and perform high-quality control checks to prepare the vehicles for transport by truck or rail. About 60 percent of the cars are loaded onto rail cars provided and serviced by BNSF Railway, while the rest are transported by truck. United Road Services, another port tenant, transports the vehicles by truck to dealers in the Pacific Northwest.

Subaru is currently remodeling its Port of Vancouver facility and adding 15,000 square feet of warehouse space. Tetreault explained that the remodel and additional space will help support Subaru’s new sales growth and its 2015 goal of 540,000 vehicles sold in the U.S.