Subaru Confirms Stop Production Outback In Japan, What's The Fate In Australia?

Subaru Outback. (Doc. Global Subaru)

JAKARTA - The fate of one of Subaru's models, Outback, has come to a point of uncertainty in the Australian market because it is confirmed that the model will stop being produced in Japan next year.

This was done because current generation sales of Outback were slow in Sakura Country. The manufacturer confirmed that the last unit produced in the country with orders in the domestic market would be discontinued on March 31, 2025.

"It should be noted that the Legacy Outback order for the Japanese market is scheduled to end at the end of March 2025," Subaru said in a media release.

Despite this, a spokesman for Subaru Australia said that the announcement only applies to Outback for the Japanese market and continues its sales in rural countries to continue.

This announcement is only for the Japanese market. Outbacks continue to serve the needs of our customers, and will remain the main model in the ranks of the Subaru SUV in Australia," said a brand spokesman quoted from Drive, Tuesday, October 29.

The statement suggests that Australia will gain the latest generation from Outback in the future with different production facilities, from Gunma in Japan turning to assembly in Indiana, United States (US).

However, another possibility is that this SUV crossover is still produced in Japan but only for export and not for sale in local markets. Unfortunately, there is no certainty about this.

The announcement will have no impact on output production for the Australian market, added a spokesman for Subaru Australia.

If production continues in Japan, then Subaru Outback will follow in the footsteps of models from competing brands such as Toyota with Camry and 4Runner and Mazda on the Mazda 6 and CX-90 models, which continue to resume production at home without selling them to the domestic market.