Subaru Expects to Hike Global Sales 6%

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. predicts its Subaru brand will boost its worldwide volume to a record 750,000 vehicles this year from 706,600 units in 2012.

Subaru's goal depends heavily on increasing U.S. sales 9% year over year to 365,000 vehicles. FHI also expects the marque's sales in China to surge 32% to 57,500 units in 2013.

But the company projects that demand for Subaru vehicles in Japan will shrink 9% to 162,000 units.

FHI confirms it will increase its U.S. capacity by expanding its assembly plant in Lafayette, Ind., instead of building a new factory. The company says the facility will add a new model in 2016, which analysts predict will be the Impreza compact car. FHI is expected to disclose details by the end of March.

The Nikkei reported earlier this month that the company would invest 20 billion yen ($225 million) to hike capacity in Lafayette by 37% to 270,000 vehicles by early 2016.