Following the news that Subaru had sold its 6 millionth vehicle in the U.S., the automaker announced that it will be more than doubling its American production. According to AutoBlog, Subaru, which currently produces about 130,000 units in the U.S., is considering raising that number to 160,000 by 2014 and nearly 300,000 by 2016.
While the growth has yet to be formally approved, the company has been discussing North American expansion for some time. The interest only intensified after China denied Subaru the right to build plants in the country, and continued growing after strong sales boosted Subaru's visibility in North America.
"We have enjoyed more than four decades of sales to loyal and enthusiastic American buyers," said Thomas J. Boll, executive vice president of Subaru of America, Inc. "We are also proud that 96 percent of Subarus built in the last 10 years are still on the road today. That speaks to the longevity of Subaru vehicles."
In addition to the growth in sales for Subaru vehicles, the company also found itself in the top five of Consumer Reports' reliability rankings, which judged brands based on auto repair and pattern of problems.