Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc.

Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA) is an automobile manufacturer in Lafayette, Indiana USA. The address is 5500 State Road 38 E, Lafayette, IN 47905. It began as a joint venture between Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) and Isuzu Motors Ltd. before the latter fell on hard times. The company was incorporated on March 17, 1988 as Subaru Isuzu Automotive, Inc., and the plant building was completed on December 31, 1988 and began producing the Subaru Legacy and Isuzu Rodeo in 1989. The factory was given $98 million in state and local tax incentives when it opened, and these remain in place.

FHI purchased Isuzu's interest in the venture in 2003 for $1.00 as that company's sales faltered. [ [http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/news/press/2002/02_12_20se.htm Fuji Heavy Industries and Isuzu Motors Signed Agreements on Dissolution of SIA Joint Venture and Production Consignment] Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. Press Release December 20, 2002] With General Motors divesting from FHI, new minority shareholder Toyota Motor Corporation plans to produce 30,000 to 40,000 Camrys per year at the plant starting in 2007 to meet excess demand currently satisfied by imports from Japan. Most North American-market Camrys are now assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky. Production of the Camry at SIA is expected to gradually increase to 100,000 units per annum. Camry production officially started March 9, 2007, with the first Camry built by SIA rolling off the assembly line on April 20, 2007. [ [http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/news/press/2007/07_04_21e.html Fuji Heavy Industries Starts Producing Toyota Camry in U.S.] Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. Press Release April 21, 2007]

SIA employed 2,813 people as of April 21, 2008. [ [http://www.subaru-sia.com/Company/sia_outline_english_2007.pdf SIA Outline] SIA Outline April 21, 2008]

The plant offers guided tours free of charge on Mondays and Wednesdays except during SIA's summer shutdown. Summer shutdown is July 7, 2008 - July 20, 2008.

Automobiles produced at SIA

Current

* Subaru Legacy
* Subaru Outback
* Subaru B9 Tribeca (2006-present)
* Toyota Camry (2007-present)

Historic

* Honda Passport
* Isuzu Rodeo
* Isuzu Axiom
* Subaru Baja

Controversy

The factory is located on Indiana State Road 38, named the Bataan Memorial Highway, as a memorial to the Bataan Death March in World War II. This caused some controversy at the time the factory was built, since the road name indicated anti-Japanese feelings. In 1995, Subaru-Isuzu Automotive was the subject of investigative writer Laurie Graham by way of her book "On The Line at Subaru-Isuzu" (ISBN 0-87546-346-0) regarding working conditions at the plant.

References

External links

* [http://www.subaru-sia.com Subaru of Indiana Automotive official website]
* [http://www.fhi.co.jp/about/english/index.html Fuji Heavy Industries official website (English)]