USA - Subaru of America have broken ground on a new $118 Million corporate headquarters in New Jersey.

Subaru of America, Inc. today broke ground on its future home in Camden, NJ. The company plans to develop an all-new $118 million corporate headquarters in the city, and in doing so, maintain its corporate headquarters in New Jersey as it has for approaching 50 years.

The automaker’s new headquarters will be located adjacent to Campbell Soup Company’s world headquarters. The Subaru of America campus will be the first new corporate headquarters in Knights Crossing, a master plan urban town center community, being developed by Brandywine Realty Trust. 

The ground-breaking ceremony featured a display of historic Subaru vehicles from the company’s 50 years in the Delaware Valley, as well as a unique earth moving/groundbreaking ceremony conducted by a specially-produced Subaru Outback with an attached plow.

Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer of Subaru of America, said: “We are very excited to be moving this project forward as we seek to bring our family of employees together on one site. This signing cements the long-term future of Subaru in the Delaware Valley and we are pleased that, after almost 50 years here, we can plan to continue to be a part of the local community we have supported for so long.”

Gerard H. Sweeney, president and chief executive officer of Brandywine Realty Trust, said: “We are delighted to contribute to the revitalization of Camden and look forward to Knights Crossing becoming a significant catalyst to the renaissance taking place in Camden. We’re especially honored to be developing this state-of-the-art campus for such a well-renowned and admired company as Subaru of America.  Subaru’s decision, coupled with the long-standing commitment by Campbell, provides an excellent platform for further economic development and job creation in the city of Camden.”

Denise Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of Campbell, said: “This project has been a decade in the making. When we announced our plans to develop an office park, many people believed it would never come to fruition. But we were determined to revitalize our headquarters and to spearhead the renaissance of the Gateway. Today, our plan becomes reality. It’s with great pride that we welcome Subaru to Camden.”

Subaru of America has had its corporate headquarters in NJ since 1969 and has been in its current location in Cherry Hill since 1986. It also has two offices in Pennsauken, space at Executive Campus in Cherry Hill and a distribution and training center in Florence, NJ. The Pennsauken and Cherry Hill offices will combine onto the new HQ Campus. Subaru will bring more than 600 employees and contractors to the city of Camden. The new facility, at 250,000 square feet, plus an additional building at 83,000 square feet will be more than double the size of its current headquarters building and will bring employees from four sites onto one campus.

Subaru plans to complete the project by the end of 2017.

The entire Knights Crossing development upon completion will consist of 1.4 million square feet of innovative office, full-service amenities, ample public greenways and will ultimately be served by two sources of public transportation.  

Camden City Mayor Dana Redd said: “We are delighted to officially break ground on this critical project as we welcome Subaru of America and their employees to the City of Camden. This continues the long term commitment by Subaru to the region and now to our city. Subaru's development builds on Campbell's investment in the Gateway District and beginning of what will be the region's top office park. It is the result of strong partnerships and is a shining example of real public-private investment. We are talking about significant investments in upgraded infrastructure, the creation of Class A office space, jobs, and a catalyst for future development. I commend Brandywine Realty Trust, Campbell Soup Company and Subaru of America for their commitment to Camden's community and the City's revitalization.”

New Jersey Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno said: “Companies, especially those of Subaru’s stature and reputation, have a choice when they decide where to set up shop and do business. Subaru saw that a valuable partnership with New Jersey was their best option. This was made possible by a Grow NJ award, valued at nearly $118 million, an example of the good that can come when businesses team up with the state of New Jersey to create jobs. This project will have a net benefit of $167.9 million. Subaru will retain 600 jobs and create 100 new positions, and the company will make a matching capital investment into the facility.”

USA - SAAB continues to as if nothing has changed at this US dealership.

Nearly all Saab dealers reached a dead end after the Swedish brand's bankruptcy in 2011. But not Park Ave Saab in Maywood, N.J.

The dealership, about 10 miles from Manhattan, bought the customer lists of several defunct Saab dealerships in the New York City area.

Then it moved into a closed Suzuki store and started courting Saab drivers in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. With ads, service coupons and emails, it offers readily available parts, service and a selection of low-mileage used Saabs.

Park Ave's website is a portal for all things Saab, such as the latest news and rumors from Sweden, updates on parts and alerts when a used Saab is for sale.

The store's ultimate goal, explained General Manager Jeremy Morrissey, is to keep Saab customers happy. And when they are ready to quit their quirky Swedish cars, ease them into one of the company's other brands. The Park Avenue Auto Group handles Acura, BMW and Lotus at other stores nearby.

Die-hard loyalists

There are more than 10,000 Saab owners in the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania area, according to the customer lists, giving Park Ave a solid customer base.

The store's used-car and parts-and-service business has been strong, said Morrissey. In 2014, the store has:

• Averaged monthly sales of between 30 and 50 mostly high-end used cars.

• Billed between 600 and 700 hours per month in the service department. Park Ave employs two full-time technicians and a service writer.

• Boosted its parts business by targeting Saab owners and independent repair shops.

The store is posting a monthly operating profit of between $20,000 and $50,000 after all the bills, rent and wages are paid, said Morrissey, who has sold Saabs since the late 1980s.

"The Saab customer is very interesting," Morrissey said. "They are very emotional about Saab, and it amazes me the loyalty customers have to that brand. They'd rather pay top dollar for a used 2011 than buy a new 2014 Volvo."

So far, few die-hard Saab fans have quit the brand at his store. But that will change as the cars age and wear out, said Morrissey. He said customers often trade high-mileage Saabs from the 1980s and 1990s for newer models, such as the 9-5 from 2008-11.

About 450,000 Saabs are still in daily use in the United States, according to an estimate by Saab Automobile Parts North America, the Swedish-government owned business unit that distributes original equipment Saab service parts to 200 factory-authorized service centers in the United States.

"When [Saab] customers have had issues with their cars and are at the end of their ropes, they know this is the best place to trade their car because of our affinity to the brand," said Morrissey. "We give them top dollar for their car. We treat them and the car as if the brand is still in the United States."

Clock is ticking

Morrissey said he can sell all the Saabs he can get that were built in 2008 and later. He scours the Internet daily, goes to auctions and buys late-model Saabs from other dealers. He buys Saabs from all over the country and ships them to New Jersey. He also ships used Saabs to other states and to Europe.

Morrissey said the plan to service Saab customers is working well. But he realizes that the clock is ticking. Eventually, even the last Saabs built in 2011 will become too old to recondition and sell at a sufficient profit, Morrissey said.

"I expect the business to decline. Everything has a time limit," said Morrissey. "I think there will be a time period when we can ride the wave, maybe another two years at the best. Then you have to figure something else out."

Richard Truett

REPORT HERE

USA - Abarth now gives all new owners a free Track Experience,

• The Abarth Track Experience offers professional driving instruction sessions to Fiat 500 Abarth owners
• Drivers will learn to maximize their driving skills on the street, strip and track
• 2014 schedule includes events in California, Texas, Florida, New Jersey and Illinois

The 2014 Abarth Track Experience kicks off this month, giving Fiat 500 Abarth owners the opportunity to develop their driving skills in a one-day performance adventure.

 

Drivers will pilot cars from a fleet of Abarths provided and put their skills to the test through four driving modules: autocross, head-to-head challenge, driving dynamics and performance drive. Drivers will end their day by riding shotgun as professional drivers push the track-tuned Abarth vehicles to the limit.

“Abarth owners already know what a thrill it is to drive the Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio on a daily basis,” said Jason Stoicevich, Head of FIAT Brand North America. “And the Abarth Track Experience revs the fun to the red line, allowing owners to experience the limits of the car in a safe track environment. At the end of this experience, owners become true drivers by better understanding the dynamics of the ‘small but wicked’ Fiat 500 Abarth.”

The 2014 Abarth Track Experience begins February 18 at Laguna Seca in Salinas, Calif., with stops throughout the year in Ft. Worth, Texas; Fontana, Calif.; Angleton, Texas; Daytona Beach, Fla.; Millville, N.J.; Joliet, Ill.; and Englishtown, N.J.

The Track Experience registration fee is included in the cost of each Fiat 500 Abarth or Abarth Cabrio.