Where Are Subarus Made?

Subaru. A word synonymous with unique Boxer engines and advanced four-wheel-drive systems.

Sure, not everyone is a Subaru fan. The brand tends to appeal to a small group of dedicated fans. But that’s not without reason.

Subaru has one of the world’s most prestigious World Rally Championship records. The Imprezas of the 2000s were the stuff of dreams. Owning one was the closest thing a road-going civilian could get to the raw power, grip, and control of a rally car.

But where are Subarus made? Are they built in Japan and shipped over or constructed directly in the States?

In this guide, you’ll everything there is to know about Subarus.

Where Is Subaru From?

Subaru is a Japanese automotive brand. It’s part of the broader conglomerate Subaru Corporation, which has stakes in many other industries.

In July 1953, Subaru was founded as an aircraft research and development company. Its origins can be traced back to Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), which was established in 1915.

The brand was first brought to America in 1968 and was an instant hit.

Today, it’s still based in Ebisu, Shibuya. Toyota has a 20% stake in the company and is thus the largest shareholder. As a result, Subaru has access to Toyota’s vast resource networks.

Although you’ll be familiar with seeing Subarus worldwide, production output is relatively small. Subaru produces around 1,000,000 cars per year (give or take). Like most manufacturers, Covid hit the company hard. In comparison, Toyota tends to shift about 10,000,000, and Kia about 3,000,000.

What Does The Subaru Name Mean?

The Subaru name is the Japanese word for the Pleiades cluster of stars. This constellation is often referred to as The Seven Sisters.

Pleiades was the title for the seven daughters of Atlas, a deity in ancient Greek stories. His duty was to support the sky, so he couldn’t shield them.

To save them from Orion (the Hunter – a nearby constellation), Zeus transformed the girls into stars. One, however, fell in love with a mortal and hid. That’s why there are only six visible stars in the sky.

This story – or variations of it – exists throughout the world in various cultures that wouldn’t have had contact before recent centuries.

Take another look at the Subaru logo. It’s made up of six stars. Compare it to the Pleiades constellation (remembering that’s what “Subaru” means in Japanese).

What a lightbulb moment!

Where Are Subarus Built?

So, are Subarus constructed in Japan? Or somewhere else?

Well, the answer’s very simple.

There are two Subaru production plants in the world. These are the Yujima Plant in Japan (Gunma) and the United States (Lafayette, Indiana).

Japanese Factory

The majority of Subarus are produced in Japan (around 60%). They are manufactured at the Yujima Plant in Ota, which is among Subaru’s four owned factories.

The only exception is the Subaru-chō factory. This produces the Subaru BRZ (aka Toyota 86). This car was developed as a joint project combining Toyota’s and Subaru’s resources. As such, it’s made separately.

Although most Subarus are still made in Japan, the Japanese market only accounts for 10% to 15% of sales (on average). The rest are exported to countries around the world.

The Japanese factories and suppliers send parts and vehicle components to the Lafayette Plant in America. Although the US plant is quickly expanding, Subaru’s heart remains in Japan.

American Factory

The American branch is run by a separate Subaru Corporation subsidy, SOA: Subaru of America.

The plant was initially run as a joint venture with Isuzu. It was named Subaru-Isuzu Automotive, or SIA. After Isuzu sales plummeted, Subaru bought them out (for $1). To reflect the new ownership, they renamed it Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (still SIA).

The Lafayette plant has recently expanded, helping to meet the growing demand from the American market. Subaru expected to produce 410,000 vehicles in the 2020/21 fiscal year.

The American factory produces a significant number of vehicles. However, most Subarus are still made in Japan. The Lafayette plant is quickly catching up, though. It builds somewhere around 40% of all Subarus worldwide.

The factory in America just marked its production of 4 million Subaru cars.

If you live in the area and fancy a guided tour, you can book one on most Mondays or Wednesdays.

Subaru’s Export Market

The American market is Subaru’s hottest by far. It accounts for about two-thirds of all Subaru sales at the moment.

Before the Covid pandemics hit, Americans bought around 700,000 Subarus per year. Sales figures slumped to 580,000 in 2021, but they’re expected to bounce back.

In other words, Americans like Subarus more than anywhere else.

Subaru also sells around 55,000 cars annually to Canada, 40,000 to Australia, and 30,000 to Europe. China is emerging as a rising market, while Russia’s sales have remained steady until the Ukraine War. The rest are sold to other countries throughout the world.

Where Is Your Subaru Built?

You can verify where your Subaru was constructed by using the VIN.

You’ll usually find your car’s VIN at the base of the windshield or in the passenger door frame.

If the first character is “J,” your car was made in Japan. If it starts with a “4”, it was constructed in the States.

Also, check the eleventh character. If this is a number, it represents an American factory. A letter typically means it’s Japanese. This character also represents the transmission type.

If you’re from the States, your Subaru was probably made in America. However, its core and its soul live in Japan. Don’t forget!