Peter Lyon
May 25, 2025
Last week, Subaru announced that it has been recognised for the third year in a row as one of the top three brands on Forbes’ 2025 Best Brands for Social Impact list, including the distinction of being the top-ranked brand in the automotive category. Drum roll please.
Created in partnership with customer-insights company HundredX, the list highlights companies that consumers feel are the most dedicated to giving back to their communities. This recognition reflects Subaru and its retailers’ unwavering commitment to driving positive change.
The 2025 survey gathered more than 4.4 million ratings from 165,000 consumers, evaluating 3,900 unique brands based on factors such as values, trust, social stances, sustainability, and community support. Respondents nominated brands independently, ensuring that the ranking celebrates organisations that integrate social impact into their core business strategy and match up with their customers’ values to create meaningful change.
Forbes’ Best Brands for Social Impact survey was conducted between March 2024 and February 2025, with participants rating consumer brands on factors such as quality, value, and customer service.
In the top spot was grocery chain H-E-B while in second place, just ahead of Subaru was apparel and footwear maker REI. Ranking after Subaru in 3rd place was Apple in 4th, Sony 5th, Nintendo 6th, Trader Joe’s 7th, Jordan 8th, Mary Kay 9th and Publix in 10th.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Participating in social initiatives, such as partnering with a charity or by investing in sustainable production practices, helps a brand to stand out from its competitors, according to Forbes. But not every brand does as well as H-E-B, REI and Subaru. To be impactful, the initiative must be aligned with its customers’ values, and the social-impact effort should be integrated within a brand’s business model, says Rob Pace, CEO of customer-insights company HundredX. “It’s not some side hobby, not some PR thing, but built into the product, built into what you do, and relevant to your business.”
