Subaru to add Forester production in Lafayette
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Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) will soon be adding to its roster. Subaru Corp. CEO Atsushi Osaki said during an earnings call Monday that the Lafayette plant has been tapped to manufacture both the hybrid and traditional gasoline models of the Forester SUV.
A spokesperson for Subaru of Indiana declined to elaborate on the announcement, saying additional details would be forthcoming.
“We’re excited about Subaru Corporation’s decision to build the Forester at our facility,” SIA President and Chief Operating Officer Scott Brand said in a statement to Inside INdiana Business. “Once again, they’ve demonstrated their confidence in our associates to build the company’s most popular models. We take pride in these opportunities to remain a key contributor to the brand’s continued success.”
A timeline for manufacturing to begin was not provided. However, a report from Automotive News said production of the Forester hybrid model at the Lafayette plant could begin in 2026.
The announcement comes less than a month after Subaru of America said it would halt production of the Legacy model in Lafayette at the end of the 2025 model year.
The nearly 6 million-square-foot facility, which is Subaru’s only plant outside of Japan, employs more than 6,500 workers. In addition to the Legacy, it produces Outback, Crosstrek and Ascent models in Lafayette.