Subaru Expands Production at Assembly Plant

Subaru of Indiana Automotive unveiled its new Subaru Ascent, which will be manufactured at the automaker’s assembly plant in Lafayette, Indiana. To support the increased production, the company plans to create up to 200 new jobs by 2018.

As an incentive, Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc up to $500,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance based, meaning until Hoosiers are trained, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Lafayette and Tippecanoe County support this project.

“The Subaru Ascent is a great addition to our production mix,” said Tom Easterday, Senior Executive Vice President of SIA. “This great new family vehicle allows us to create hundreds of new jobs at SIA, and also at our suppliers in Indiana and across the country.”

The company, which is a subsidiary of Subaru Corporation and is the company’s only assembly plant outside Japan, will invest more than $140 million to purchase new machinery and equipment to add production of the Subaru Ascent in 2018 to meet the growing demand for mid-level vehicles in North America. The all-new Subaru Ascent is a three–row crossover vehicle that has the capacity to hold seven or eight passengers.

SIA currently employs more than 5,600 associates at its location in Indiana and will produce approximately 400,000 vehicles in 2018, including the Subaru Legacy, Impreza, Outback and Ascent. Since the start of the company’s production 30 years ago, the facility has produced more than five million vehicles.

“Today we witness Subaru’s continued commitment to Indiana as the company unveils the all-new Subaru Ascent and announces its plans to create more jobs for Hoosiers,” Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. “For 30 years, Subaru has spurred economic growth and I’m confident they will witness continued success as we work to take Indiana to the next level by growing our economy and developing the skills of our workforce.”

“We are pleased that the IEDC recognizes the value that SIA brings to our community,” said Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski. “As one of the area’s largest employers, SIA has established itself as a company who offers jobs that can translate to lifetime careers, with tangible and lasting benefits directly impacting quality of life.”