Malcolm Bricklin

Malcolm N. Bricklin

Early Ventures

Subaru of America (1968): Founded Subaru of America, importing the Subaru 360 mini-car and establishing a major foothold in the U.S. automotive market.

Bricklin SV-1 (1974-76): Created the Bricklin SV-1, a safety-focused sports car with innovative features like a tubular steel frame and gull-wing doors.

Yugo (1985-92): Successfully imported and marketed the Yugo, the fastest-selling European car in the U.S., with over 163,000 units sold in three years.

Innovative Projects:

EV Warrior (1993): Developed an electric bicycle, the EV Warrior, emphasizing environmentally-friendly transportation ahead of its time.

Chery Automobile (2004): Partnered with Chery Automobile to import five car models to North America, modernizing their manufacturing to meet international standards.

Business Philosophy:

Known for viewing failures as steps to success, Bricklin leveraged setbacks to build fame and power, always pushing the boundaries of innovation.

Personal Background:

Grew up in Orlando, Florida, starting in his family's furrier shop before building a franchised chain of hardware stores at age 19.

Owned luxurious properties at the height of his success, including a desert ranch in Arizona and a 5,000-acre estate in Colorado.

Notable Quotes:

"The things that people see as failures are often the steps to success. I got my fame and power from the failure of the Bricklin."

Personal Life:

Bricklin has six sons and has been divorced three times. He currently lives in Monroe, New York, with his wife, artist Sania Teymeny.

Legacy and Reviews:

Described by The New York Times as an automotive version of P.T. Barnum, and by Rolling Stone as "brash, bombastic, and pathologically prone to betting the farm on pie-in-the-sky automotive endeavors."

Keith Crain, publisher of Automotive News, likened him to a toy clown that always bounces back after being punched.

Malcolm Bricklin's career is a testament to resilience and relentless pursuit of innovation, making significant impacts in the automotive industry through both notable successes and valuable lessons from failures.