Subaru to Upgrade Indiana Plant for 2019 Ascent Crossover

Subaru Corp. plans to spend $140 million and add 200 jobs to produce the 2019 Ascent crossover vehicle at its Lafayette, Ind., plant.

The investment will go toward expanding the factory and adding new equipment and tooling. The project involves a larger paint shop, new carriers and revised workstations. The additional 200 workers will bring total employment at the plant to 5,800.

The Ascent was introduced this week at the Los Angeles auto show. Production of the three-row crossover will begin next spring at the Lafayette facility, which also builds Subaru’s Outback SUV and Impreza and Legacy sedans.

Subaru says annual sales of the Ascent could approach 80,000 units. Lafayette’s total output is expected to climb from about 365,000 units this year to 400,000 with the addition of the new crossover.

The carmaker has invested nearly $1.5 billion in Lafayette over the past five years. Last year Subaru moved production of the Impreza from Japan to the Indiana factory.