Subaru's Doll was transformational

TO THE EDITOR:

Tom Doll's tenure as leader of Subaru of America was nothing short of transformational ("Subaru exec shuffle: New CEO pledges electrification flexibility; Doll to step down as U.S. chief," autonews.com, March 3). It is a feat most likely never to be repeated at any car company.

Under his leadership, the Subaru brand has not only become one of the strongest in automotive, but also in the nation. Subaru has a tremendous sense of what it is and what it isn't.

When we became a Subaru retailer in 2007, people continually asked, "Why do I need all-wheel drive in Southern California?" Frankly, we didn't have a good answer. Our sales numbers reflected that. Subaru then successfully tied its symmetrical awd to its outstanding safety ratings, and sales climbed.

Concurrent to that, Tom led the effort to make us more than a car company. That was defined by giving back to our communities in what has become the Subaru Love Promise. From national parks, to animal shelters, to blood banks and a host of worthy causes in between, support from Subaru and its retailers has made a difference. Tom's efforts created a fiercely loyal network of retailers. And the network was rewarded — Subaru didn't add points as the brand grew, enabling burgeoning throughput.

The legacy Tom leaves is meaningful. The brand grew sales to 700,000 in 2019 from 187,000 vehicles in 2007. Central to that was introducing the Crosstrek, a consistent leader in the subcompact crossover segment. Last year, Subaru retailers had the strongest customer retention in the industry, according to S&P Global Mobility.

The most relevant question at the end of someone's career is: Did they leave the company better than they found it? The breadth of the answer is what sets Tom apart. Subaru is much stronger. The brand is much stronger. The retailers are much stronger. The world is a better place with the hundreds of millions of dollars of contributions and countless hours the collective of the Subaru brand has donated.

Tom's 40-year Subaru career, the last 10 as the U.S. unit's leader, has enabled the brand to develop the next generation of leaders. Subaru will be in good hands.

HOWARD DRAKE, Owner, Subaru Sherman Oaks, Sherman Oaks, Calif.