Subaru's US Plant Will Now Stay Dark Through April 6

Subaru Indiana Automotive where the 2020 Subaru Outback, Ascent, Impreza, and Legacy are made, announced its temporary suspension of production from March 23-29 is being extended until April 6, 2020, because of the COVID-19 health crisis. Subaru of America says the additional week the plant will stay dark is the result of Governor Eric Holcomb’s stay at home order to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Subaru says it expects to lose approximately 1,700 vehicles per day due to the extended two-week shutdown. This would be approximately 24,000 Subaru vehicles, mostly Outback and Ascent models, the brand’s best selling models in the US., that won’t be rolling off the assembly line. SIA says only limited personnel will be working on-site during the shutdown.

The Subaru plant in Lafayette, Indiana makes the 2020 Outback

Production and assembly lines have been silent all week as Subaru Corporation responds to the worlds-wide COVID-19 health crisis. Automotive News reports J.D. Power and Associates estimates industrywide March car sales will plunge 41 percent from last year. 

Toyota, who owns 20 percent of Subaru Corporation says because of declining vehicle demand, they will extend the shutdown of all light-vehicle and components plants in North America, including Canada and Mexico, through April 17, with output to resume April 20. Toyota also originally planned to restart plants on April 6.

No Subaru Indiana Automotive employees have tested positive for COVID-19

A report from WLFI in Indiana said SIA sent two employees home after coming into contact with a person carrying the Coronavirus virus. SIA shut down one engine assembly line and immediately started disinfecting the area. Although, no SIA employees have tested positive for the virus themselves.

The company says all associates will continue to receive full pay during the shutdown. A news release from SIA said, “SIA continues to monitor the rapidly evolving situation and will provide updates when additional information is available.” Subaru Corporation has not announced a shutdown of its main plant in Gunma, Japan.

Because of the sharp decline in sales, Subaru of America is offering zero-percent financing on all 2020 Ascent models, and 0.9 percent on all new 2020 Outback models. Customers shopping for a new 2020 Subaru Outback, Ascent, Impreza or Legacy should not have any problems finding the model they want. Stay tuned to Torque News for the latest CIVID-19 news.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his reports are archived on our Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Subaru Report. Check back tomorrow for more Subaru news and updates at Torque News!

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Photo credit: Subaru USA