Subaru Will Hike Crossover Production in Malaysia

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. plans to begin assembling Subaru Forester crossover vehicles in Malaysia as soon as March, thereby helping to hike its output of crossover/SUVs in the country fourfold.

The cars will be assembled by Singapore-based affiliate Tan Chong Group from kits imported from Japan at a rate of about 9,000 units this year, according to The Nikkei.

The Forester will join the Subaru XV sporty crossover (called the Crosstrek in the U.S.), which Tan Chong has been assembling since 2012. The Nikkei says the Malaysian company plans to increase XV output from 3,100 units to about 4,500 vehicles this year.