Subaru overcomes lean stockpiles to post 6% gain
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Subaru of America sales rose 6 percent in April, marking a fifth consecutive month of gains and paving the way for another record year, the company said.
Sales rose to 26,310 units last month despite a shortage of inventory. Subaru is down to an 11-day supply of light vehicles in some areas of the country, a spokesman said.
Subaru's inventory is still low because of the production disruption caused last year by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
"Inventory has never recovered from last year as strong demand keeps eating at it," said Michael McHale, a spokesman for Subaru of America.
April sales were driven by the new-generation four- and five-door Impreza compact car that went on sale late last year. Impreza sales rose 124 percent in April from a year earlier.
Sales for the first four months rose 16 percent over the prior period to 106,878 vehicles.
Subaru COO Tom Doll said in a statement: "Subaru sales have exceeded 100,000 in four months -- a first in our company's 44-year history."
You can reach Diana T. Kurylko at dkurylko@crain.com. -- Follow Diana on 
