20 October 2017

Subaru USA Production History : 1989-2016


Japanese car manufacturers realised they had to make vehicles in North America but smaller companies couldn't go it alone, lacking the sales volume to support a car plant. The answer for them was joint ventures. Subaru teamed up with Isuzu and commenced US production in 1989 at Layfayette, Indiana. That involved the Outback and and an Isuzu pick-up.

Over the years the plant also made cars for Honda (a rebadged Isuzu) and other Isuzu models. When that realtionship ended, Toyota came on board until 2016. Now that Subaru is a sizable car brand in North America, Subaru can support the plant with its production requirements alone. The Subaru models that are, or have been made there are as follows:

Outback: It's been an ever present model, with over 2.5 million made over 28 years. Not counting the start up year, that is an average of nearly 96,000 p.a.

Legacy: This model was added to production in 2009 and has racked up 405,000 units at an average of nearly 58,000.

Impreza: Has just been introduced and becomes a third model for the brand now that the Tribeca is no longer.

Tribeca: This was the only location the model was made and those numbers say it wasn't a success. A mid-sized SUV sounds like a winner but it was heavy on fuel, was considered less than attractive and just didn't stir the public.

Baja: This small pick up truck was supposed to sell in the tens of thousands each year but fell well short of that. The unusual vehicle was offered in the US, Canada and Chile. It was a Legacy (or Outback) with a rear tray so was car like but not liked.

Summary: With over 3.1 million vehicles made for Subaru alone at a rate of about 117,000 p.a., the Indiana plant is a success story. Now being just for the Subaru brand, the company has free reign to use the plant as it sees fit to meet its demands.


Year Passenger cars Light Trucks Annual

Model Outback Legacy Impreza Tribeca Baja Prod

1989 5,400 - - - - 5,400

1990 32,500 - - - - 32,500

1991 57,900 - - - - 57,900

1992 57,600 - - - - 57,600

1993 47,100 - - - - 47,100

1994 54,000 - - - - 54,000

1995 80,700 - - - - 80,700

1996 98,700 - - - - 98,700

1997 102,200 - - - - 102,200

1998 104,200 - - - - 104,200

1999 93,100 - - - - 93,100

2000 108,000 - - - - 108,000

2001 103,000 - - - - 103,000

2002 93,100 - - - 9,700 102,800

2003 89,200 - - - 7,800 97,000

2004 98,300 - - - 7,200 105,500

2005 87,200 - - 27,500 4,300 119,000

2006 84,300 - - 21,000 5,100 110,400

2007 85,000 - - 24,200 - 109,200

2008 73,500 - - 18,100 - 91,600

2009 50,900 28,100 - 3,900 - 82,900

2010 108,700 43,800 - 5,500 - 158,000

2011 108,800 46,500 - 6,400 - 161,700

2012 130,200 50,400 - 4,200 - 184,800

2013 122,600 40,800 - 2,800 - 166,200

2014 137,800 55,000 - 200 - 193,000

2015 162,800 66,000 - - - 228,800

2016 208,800 74,600 13,400 - - 296,800

Total 2,585,600 405,200 13,400 113,800 34,100 3,152,100

Average 95,763 57,886 13,400 12,644 6,820 116,744

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