CHICAGO, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) — Japanese automaker Subaru announced Wednesday that it will invest 158 million U.S. dollars into two new plants that will create 350 jobs.
According to Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Subaru's North American production arm, the investment by the company will go toward adding a new service parts facility and transmission assembly shop in Lafayette, U.S. state of Indiana.
The new facilities will be located on Subaru of Indiana Automotive's 820-acre campus. Construction is expected to begin this summer on both the service parts facility, which will be a stand-alone building, and the transmission assembly shop, which will be an addition to the plant.
Subaru of Indiana Automotive is the only manufacturing facility that Subaru has outside of Asia. The company employs more than 6,000 workers and began production for Subaru in 1989. Annual vehicle production at the plant is expected to reach 410,000 in 2020.
Approximately 50 percent of Subaru's sold in North America are built in Indiana, according to estimates from the company.
"Our production levels have tripled over the past 10 years," said Scott Brand, senior vice president of administration and quality at Subaru of Indiana Automotive. "These new projects are exciting growth opportunities to help us meet increasing customer demand."