After an eight-year tie up, Subaru and L.L. Bean have announced they will be parting ways. Since 2000, L.L. Bean models have stood atop Subaru’s trim line hierarchy, but both brands have mutually agreed to disband after the current batch of cars. Top level Subarus will now wear the ‘Limited’ nameplate.
Subaru spokesman Dominick Infante explained that Subaru is already doing quite well on the East Coast and in ski states – where L.L. Bean is also quite popular – but the moniker doesn’t make much sense in states where people aren’t so aware of the L.L. Bean brand. “We have been doing very well on the East Coast and in ski states, but want to expand more into sunshine states like Texas, Florida and California,” he told KickingTires.com.
The move seems to make sense, especially since Subaru produces some great road vehicles and not just wagons built for mountain trails.
But for those of you who love the corporate tie-up, there is still time to grab an L.L. Bean Edition Subaru. The switch over will begin in July but L.L. Bean Editions of the Forrester and Outback will be available at dealerships until all inventories are sold.
06/17, 10:40 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
I can’t believe Soobie is writing off the lezbo crowd so casually.
06/17, 10:43 AM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
??? L.L. Bean? Is this even serious? I thought they made backpacks? I guess they’ll have to team up with OshKosh B’gosh
06/17, 10:58 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
Its better than a GM teaming up with Members Only
06/17, 10:59 AM
posted by:
shaver
My neighbor just got their 6yr old kid a LL Bean mountain bike
06/17, 11:33 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
Did the bike have awd and a boxter pedal ?
06/17, 11:35 AM
posted by:
xyunya
LL Bean is one of the oldest cataloger’s for outdoor and camping. They even mentioned in Hemingway novels (For whom the bells toll) without any endorsement.
06/17, 12:40 PM
posted by:
TomF
LL Bean is a backwoods Maine institution, but it was a lot more credible brand name before they began gluing it onto mountain bikes, GPS systems and Subarus.
06/17, 1:02 PM
posted by:
ktulu
They don’t match N-E way
06/17, 1:35 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
Car companies combining the brand with another is stupid. Ford and Eddie Bauer, Ford and Harley, Subie and LL Bean, AMC Gremlin and Levi’s, GM and garbage.
06/17, 1:54 PM
posted by:
dustin555
Wow, L.L. Bean must hate the new Exige as much as I do. Sayonara, suckahs!
06/17, 4:14 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
That was a silly marketing gimmick. Oh well, Subaru could do a Mr. Bean edition now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Bean
06/17, 6:12 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
Maybe they can steal the Eddie Bauer name from Ford. Or if they want to sell more vehicles in Texas name it after a ranch like Ford did with the King Ranch edition.
06/18, 12:17 AM
posted by:
maxcar
it’s like garnishing chocolate with vanilla