2015 Subaru WRX STI keeps assembly line humming but fans aren’t happy

Sales of the new-generation 2015 Subaru WRX and WRX STI are hot here in the U.S., but buyers of the performance cars aren't happy. Subaru of America (SOA) reports sales of the WRX/STI, Forester, Outback, and XV Crosstrek were notably strong as each model line achieved its best October ever. But buyers of the new 2015 WRX/STI have to wait for their performance cars, where the other models are available for buyers to immediately drive them off the lot.

As we reported back in July, if you want a new-generation 2015 Subaru WRX or WRX STI performance sedan, you better be prepared to wait. It will require you putting in your order for the car you want, and then waiting at minimum 8-10 weeks for your car to be built and shipped from the Gunma Japan factory. And you won’t be able to take one for a test drive before you buy one because dealers don’t have any demos sitting in their showrooms.

Why such long waits for WRX/STI?

Unfortunately, Fuji Heavy Industries, maker of Subaru vehicles, doesn’t have the assembly line capacity to keep up with the record growth they are experiencing. SOA reported a 25 percent sales increase for October 2014, resulting in another monthly sales record. The company sold 43,012 vehicles in October 2014 versus 34,483 in October 2013. And Subaru has seen the YTD sales increase 20 percent with 418,497 vehicles sold versus 347,890 over the same period last year. 2015 WRX/STI sales are up 53.76 percent MTD and are up 35.09 percent YTD.

What is Subaru doing about the long waits?

It’s a good problem to have for the Japanese automaker as the company has now seen 35 consecutive months of year-over-year growth and is well on its way to its sixth successive annual sales record. SOA says they expect to surpass their 2013 annual sales record of 424,683 vehicles in the coming weeks. Subaru is in the process now of expanding their Indiana plant with a $400 million expansion to keep up with growing demand for the Subaru cars. They will also pick up needed assembly line space because Toyota will end their contract with Subaru to produce the Camry at the Indiana plant when the contract expires in 2016.

For now, if you want to buy a new-generation 2015 Subaru WRX or WRX STI, you will have to wait at least 8-10 weeks for your performance sedan to arrive here in the U.S. The waits will continue because of the record growth the brand is seeing month after month. Fuji Heavy is doing what they can to ramp up production, but the waits will likely continue until 2016.

Other 2015 Subaru WRX/STI stories of interest.
5 reasons you don’t want to buy the Subaru WRX but should choose the STI