Subaru has made a serious change in the market in recent years. This legendary Japanese brand left its mark on the world of rallying. Over the years, that evolved into cars for the consumer market that focused on sending only the most adventurous families and individuals out into the wilderness. While both things still hold true, the brand has gone mainstream, with hundreds of thousands of families choosing Subaru despite its off-road plans. This recent jump in popularity has many wondering what Subaru is and where it came from. So where are Subaru’s made?
Where are Subaru’s made?
Subaru is a relatively small car manufacturer. There are only five factories in total. Four of them are in their native Japan.
According to motor trend, the main plant is the Subaru-Cho. This sprawling monument to the industry spans 82 acres and produces the WRX, Impreza, Crosstrek (or XV as it’s called in Japan), BRZ, and the Toyota GR86. This facility employs 4,500 people.
The Yajima plant is where Subaru makes the big ones. This is where the Subaru Forester, Outback and Legacy come from. Ironically, this facility is slightly smaller but still employs 3,000 people.
The most interesting place where Subaru’s are made is the Ota North plant. This is where Subaru has been building cars the longest. Subaru built the Sambar kei utility vehicle here up to a decade ago. This family of diminutive vehicles includes passenger vans, dump trucks and pickup trucks, all smaller and lighter than a Mazda Miata. (Kei cars and trucks are wild.) Although Subaru no longer makes these vehicles, Subaru still makes aircraft parts here.
The Oizumi plant houses the production of engines and transmissions for all Soobs. As MotorTrend points out, this separation simplifies the process, making production more seamless.
Are Subaru’s made in America?
Lastly, Subaru has a plant in none other than Lafayette, Indiana. At this facility, Subaru builds more than 300,000 vehicles a year (at least in normal years). This plant is where Subaru Outbacks, Legacy, Ascents, and Imprezas are built. Other Japanese automakers have also built cars on the sprawling 820-acre site, such as Honda and Toyota.
Models not made in the US are mostly high performance low volume cars or electric vehicles built for JDM. Clearly, the US market is vital to Subaru.
Does Toyota own Subaru?
Not really. According to MotorTrend, Toyota has a small stake in Subaru Corporation, of which Subaru is a subsidiary. However, as with the Subaru BRZ and Solterra, the two marques partner on certain models from time to time.