Subaru Boosting US Capacity on Strong Sales
Subaru has big plans for the U.S. market.
The Japanese automaker expects to meet its North American sales targets five years early and plans to ramp up both production and the introduction of new vehicles to the U.S.
Subaru has now moved its sales targets up to 600,000 units by the end of the current fiscal year (March 31, 2016), a number the automaker hadn’t planned to hit until 2021. Capacity at Subaru’s Lafayette, Ind. plant will be raised to 394,000 vehicles annually by the end of 2016 to try and meet demand. “If only we had more cars, we could be selling more,” said Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru’s parent company) President Yasuyuki Yoshinaga.
Beginning with the next-generation Subaru Impreza, which should arrive in 2016 as a 2017 model, the brand will begin implementing a new modular architecture known as the Subaru Global Platform. It will eventually support every model in the automaker’s lineup and it will help Subaru reduce unit costs thanks to more efficient manufacturing.
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New models on tap for North America include a seven-seat SUV that will replace the Tribeca along with a plug-in hybrid model. Every gasoline engine in the lineup will also be converted to direct injection in the future.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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