End of Production for the Subaru Legacy
The era of the Subaru Legacy in America has come to an end. After the company confirmed the discontinuation of its longest-running and first model line built in the USA, production has officially ended. Now, to purchase a Legacy, one must search for a car from the remaining inventory at dealerships.
Historical Context of Production
Subaru began production of the Legacy at its plant in Lafayette, Indiana, in September 1989. Initially, the plant was a joint venture with Isuzu, but the partnership ended in 2022. After that, Toyota became a significant investor in the site, and the popular Camry was produced there alongside the Legacy from 2007 until May 2016.
Production Volumes and Decline in Demand
Over seven generations, approximately 1.4 million units of the Legacy were manufactured at the Indiana plant, including 1,056,056 sedans and 342,938 wagons. Demand for the Legacy has declined in recent years due to buyers shifting to SUVs. In 2024, only 19,951 units were sold, which is 23% less than the previous year.
This is a bittersweet moment for our company and employees. While an important chapter in our history is closing, we are already turning the page and beginning a new one
Future of the Indiana Plant
Production of the Outback will also cease at the Indiana plant by the end of October, and the manufacturing of the updated crossover wagon will return to Japan. However, the plant will not be closed: production of the Forester will begin here, and assembly of the hybrid version, the Forester Hybrid, will be added in the spring.
We are looking forward to the future. Launching production of gasoline and hybrid Foresters in the US will ensure a faster response to market needs for one of Subaru’s most popular models, while also introducing hybrid processes and technologies into our operations
Subaru’s transition to producing hybrid models in the US reflects the general trend among automakers towards localization and environmentally oriented solutions. It also demonstrates how changes in demand drive structural shifts even in conservative industries like the automotive sector. The end of Legacy production symbolizes the conclusion of an era but simultaneously opens new opportunities for adapting to modern market conditions.