LAFAYETTE—Subaru is about to begin work on expanding its Lafayette manufacturing plant, a project that will lead to 350 news jobs.
Thursday, the automaker will break ground on a new service parts facility and a transmission assembly shop at a cost of $158 million.
“We’re proud to continue investing in Indiana,” said Scott Brand, senior vice president of administration and quality. “We also appreciate the tremendous support these plans have received from the state, Tippecanoe County and the city of Lafayette.”
Both projects will be located on the plant’s 820-acre campus where more than 6,000 people already work.
The service parts facility will be a stand-alone building while the transmission assembly shop will be an addition to the plant.
The Lafayette plant is Subaru's only manufacturing facility outside of Asia. The Ascent, Impreza, Legacy and Outback models for North America are made there. Since beginning production in 1989, the plant has increased its annual production of vehicles from 67,000 to a projected 410,000 in 2020, according to the company.
“Our production levels have tripled over the past 10 years,” said Brand. “These new projects are exciting growth opportunities to help us meet increasing customer demand.”
In December, Subaru opened a $4.2 million Technical Training Center on its campus. The facility, which includes a simulated factory floor, provides associates with the skills needed for careers in advanced manufacturing.
