The New Next-Gen Subaru Crosstrek Rolls Off U.S. Assembly Line For The First Time

Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA), where Subaru manufactures the 2023 Outback midsize SUV, Ascent 3-Row SUV, and Legacy midsize sedan, is now building the all-new next-generation 2024 Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV for the first time. A report from the Journal and Courier said the first new models are rolling off the assembly line in Lafayette, Indiana.

The report says the first third-generation 2024 Crosstrek models were driven off the assembly line in Indiana at 2 p.m. on May 9. Subaru of Indiana Automotive dropped the Impreza compact car and shifted its production to Japan to make room for the next-generation Crosstrek at the U.S. plant. Because the Crosstrek outsells the Impreza by ten times, Subaru of America wanted the Crossrek built closer to home for its U.S. customers.

The Impreza is no longer manufactured in the U.S. factory in Lafayette, Indiana. Instead, all 2024 model-year Impreza hatchbacks will now be made in the Gunma, Japan factory and shipped to U.S. customers. Subaru did this to make room for the 2024 Crosstrek Sport, Limited, and the all-new Wilderness that Subaru of Indiana Automotive now makes in the U.S. factory.

Over the past 11 years, Subaru of America has worked on bringing production of the Crosstrek to the U.S. plant; now, it's a reality. "We always want to look at where we produce vehicles to be best aligned with where the market is," Brand said. "And as the product became more popular, we saw the opportunity to bring it to the United States. It's the number one selling car in Subaru's lineup in 2022. So having it here in the States allows us to produce and deliver it to the customer more efficiently." said Scott Brand, executive vice president of SIA.

Craig Koven, manager of communications and external relations for SIA, said about 140-150 Crosstrek vehicles had been produced at the Lafayette manufacturing facility in May.

Subaru of Indiana Automotive will produce three trim levels in the U.S. plant; The Premium, Limited, and all-new 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness trim levels. And for 2023, SIA says they are now projecting an increase in output of 131,040 more vehicles over 2022. Many will be the three new Crosstrek trims.

Subaru Corporation will manufacture the 2024 Crosstrek Base and Premium trim levels at its Gunma Japan factory.

What does it mean for U.S. customers?

The U.S. is Subaru's most significant market, where they sell close to 70 percent of all cars it manufactures globally. As a result, Subaru of America can get the best-selling Sport, Limited, and new Wilderness trims to its U.S. customers quicker now.

The next-generation 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Sport and Limited will be available to U.S. customers later this summer, and the all-new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness will be available this fall. The first new Sport and Limited are now rolling off the SIA assembly line.

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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 USA