Subaru investing $400 million for Impreza production in Indiana
Thu, 09 May 2013
As a part of a goal to increase its US sales tally up to 500,000 annual units by the end of the decade, Subaru is investing $400 million in its Lafayette, IN assembly plant in order to start building the Impreza in 2016. According to Automotive News, about half of that investment will be for a new paint plant while another big chunk will be used to extend the assembly line to allow for the increased capacity.
Currently, Subaru's Lafayette plant is responsible for building about 200,000 Legacy, Outback and Tribeca models each year (not including around 100,000 Toyota Camry sedans), but Subaru-specific output will be increased to 300,000 units, requiring an additional 900 new hires as well. Although a previous report suggested the Forester and Impreza would be moving Stateside, this AN article only mentions the hatchback and sedan versions of the Impreza being added to Lafayette – and no mention of the closely related XV Crosstrek.
By Jeffrey N. Ross
See also: Subaru recalls new Forester over pedal entrapment fears, Subaru WRX STI prototype spied in motion, Subaru uses a mime and a toy car to explain why it loves the boxer engine.