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It's good news for Forester buyers.
If you are shopping for the all-new, remodeled 2025 Subaru Forester, there's more coming to North America. Subaru Corporation announced its production and export results, and some changes will affect Forester, Crosstrek, and Outback shoppers.
The rollercoaster ride continues, but now it has switched from the last few months. The new Forester production in Japan has increased, and Outback and Crosstrek production has decreased. This has ramifications for new Subaru model shoppers.
First, here are the production results for July in Japan. Then, I'll give U.S. production data and explain what it means for shoppers in North American markets, U.S., and Canada.
Forester production is going up.
Subaru Corporation's production of the all-new 2025 Forester, 2024 Crosstrek Base and Premium trims, Impreza, WRX, and BRZ production has increased.
The announcement reveals that Japan's Gunma plant production has increased 0.2 percent. That's significant because it's the first increase in 6 months. The Japanese plant production is down 6.8 percent for the year.
Why was Japan's plant production down for so long?
As I reported in February, the on-the-job death of a Subaru worker, crushed to death by a 25-ton mold at its factory in Japan, had a significant impact on the Japanese automaker's production. Subaru halted production in Japan to review safety protocols due to the factory worker’s death.
The death happened after a mold fell on a worker at Subaru's Yajima assembly plant north of Tokyo. Police identified the worker as a 60-year-old man, a 35-year company veteran. Output remained slower than usual through the end of April. Read more about the incident in my report here.
Things in Japan are returning to normal.
With the Subaru plant ramping production up, the export of new Forester models has increased by 2.5 percent, the first increase in two months. Subaru retailers are already seeing more new next-generation Forester compact SUVs arriving for customers.
Japan's Subaru factory also manufactures the 2024 Crosstrek Base and Premium subcompact SUV trim levels, the 2024 Impreza compact hatchback, the WRX performance sports car, and the BRZ sports coupe.
Outback and Crosstrek production slows.
In contrast, the production of the new model of the 2025 Outback midsize SUV, Crosstrek Sport, Wilderness, and Limited subcompact SUV trim levels, and Ascent 3-Row SUV and Legacy midsize sedan decreased 19.9 percent in July. It's Subaru of Indiana Automotive's (SIA) first decrease in four months. Despite the slowdown, SIA has increased its production by 12.8 percent this year.
The U.S. plant in Indiana shuts down for two weeks.
The Subaru plant in Lafayette, Indiana, which makes the Outback, Crosstrek with the 2.5-liter engine, Ascent, and Legacy, shut down for two weeks. It's an expected two-week downtime that happens annually usually in late June into July.
Craig Koven, Communications and External Relations Manager for Subaru of Indiana Automotive, told me earlier that the plant closes "For our usual two-week summer shutdown." The shutdown gives the automaker time for routine maintenance, cleaning, and employee time off.
Subaru has increased inventory.
Subaru retailers in North America have a good supply of Outback and Crosstrek models. A report from Automotive News (by subscription) shows that as of August 1, 2024, Subaru has a 32-day supply of new vehicles on the ground. Subaru's new model inventory has not been this high for four years.
More production changes are coming.
As I previously reported, the next-gen Forester will be manufactured at a U.S. plant in Lafayette, Indiana, starting next year. Since Subaru sells nearly 75 percent of its models in the U.S., the Japanese automaker is making this change to ensure a steady supply of the top-selling Forester for its North American customers.
Forester production will begin in Indiana as soon as it stops manufacturing the discontinued Legacy sedan model after the 2025 models make their final run.
A new Forester Hybrid is coming.
New next-generation Forester Hybrid trims will also likely be built in Indiana as the new Forester production moves to the U.S. This shift significantly changes Subaru's manufacturing strategy. It brings potential customer benefits like shorter delivery times.
Subaru Corporation will continue manufacturing the Forester in Japan for its local and global customers in Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Customers can look forward to a plentiful supply of the new 2025 Subaru Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek models this fall.
I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Writer since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.
Photo credit: Tucson Subaru
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