Another Subaru Plant Shutdown - The New 2022 Forester Could See More Delays

The Subaru Yajima plant in Gunma, Japan, that makes the automaker's number one selling model, the newly-refreshed 2022 Subaru Forester compact SUV, shut down again. A new report from Reuters says Subaru will stop production in July due to more shortages of semiconductor microchips.

Subaru Corporation will idle plant production on July 16, according to the new report. "It is part of the production adjustment due to the shortage of semiconductors," a Subaru spokesperson said last week.

WebProNews reports Subaru is also considering shutting down its Kosai and Sagara plants in Shizuoka, Japan. Should the Japanese automaker decide to suspend production at those plants, they will be closed for two and seven days, respectively.

Torque News reported in April the Subaru Yajima Plant in Gunma, Japan, suspended production April 10–27, 2021. TN also said the Subaru plant in Lafayette, Indiana, shut down between March 25 and April 1. Both plant shutdowns are affecting inventory shortages for U.S. customers.

This led to a total production loss of around 15,000 vehicles in the U.S. and at the plant in Gunma, Japan, where they make the 2022 Forester, Crosstrek, and other models lost approximately 10,000 cars to its shutdown. A report from Automotive News says Subaru has the tightest inventory of any automaker at 16 days.

Torque News checked with one of the largest Subaru retailers near Denver, Colorado, and a spokesman told us they have no Crosstrek model and only a couple of Forester and Ascent SUVs on its lot. He said, "We are holding up ok on Outback models at the moment."

photo courtesy of Subaru retailer near Denver

Subaru recently announced the 2022 Forester model change and upgrades. It gets a refresh in year four of its production cycle with a new front facia, grill, and headlights.

Subaru of America has not announced its 2022 Subaru Forester model, but it's expected to be revealed soon. The number one selling Forester is already hard to find, and inventory levels are dwindling before the new 2022 models arrive.

The new plant shutdown in Japan will likely affect the 2022 Subaru Forester inventory this summer. ABC News5 reports Josh Obenreder, a Subaru retailer in Ohio, says it could be August before retailers have more Forester models. "Subaru assures us that probably by August, we'll be back to normal levels," he said.

Torque News will bring the latest 2022 Subaru Forester inventory issues, model change information, and pricing as soon as Subaru of America announces it.

You Might Also Like: Meet The 2022 Subaru Forester - Complete Details And Image Gallery Are Here

Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: Subaru