Subaru was one of the last of Japan's automakers to set up light-vehicle manufacturing in North America. But from a modest start — the first vehicle, a Subaru Legacy, was built at a plant initially known as Subaru-Isuzu Automotive in Lafayette, Ind., on Sept. 11, 1989 — the company has made major strides.
The $500 million SIA plant was a joint venture between Subaru's parent company, then known as Fuji Heavy Industries, and Isuzu Motor Co. The Lafayette site was selected in December 1986 and ground was officially broken in May 1987. In addition to the Legacy sedan, Isuzu produced a small pickup at the plant. Subaru also quickly added a Legacy wagon to the production line.
Isuzu added the Rodeo SUV at the factory and later built a version for Honda called the Passport.
Subaru later introduced the Outback, a rugged, taller version of the Legacy wagon.
The joint venture between two of Japan's smaller automakers ended in December 2002 when Fuji bought Isuzu's interest in the plant for $1. The factory was renamed Subaru of Indiana Automotive and the last Isuzu was built there in July 2004.
In 2005, Toyota Motor Corp. became a major Fuji investor and by 2007, the first project between the two companies began: Toyota Camry production at the Indiana plant.
Camry output lasted there until May 2016.
Today, the Lafayette plant, Subaru's only factory outside of Asia, produces the Subaru Legacy, Outback, Crosstrek and Ascent.
Output at the plant is projected to total 377,500 in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, which would be a record, Subaru says.
