Click for more.
Subaru Of Indiana Automotive (Subaru Corp. NASDAQ: FUJHF) began hybrid production this week when a 2026 Forester Hybrid Premium in Autumn Green Metallic drove off one of its assembly lines.* Forester is first hybrid vehicle to be produced by the automaker in the U.S. All Subaru Forester models sold in the U.S. are now assembled at the automaker’s facility in Lafayette, IN. SIA began production of the 2026 Forester gas model on 7 October 2025.
“Bringing hybrid vehicle assembly to our facility has been in the works for five years,” said Scott Brand, president and chief operating officer of SIA. “Seeing the start of mass production is highly rewarding and the culmination of a lot of hard work by our associates.”
SIA is Subaru’s only manufacturing facility outside of Japan and currently assembles the Ascent, Crosstrek, and Forester models. Since beginning production in 1989, the facility has assembled more than 6 million Subaru vehicles.
The 2026 Subaru Forester is available in six trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Touring, and Wilderness trim levels, and is available at Subaru retailers nationwide. The Subaru Forester Hybrid is available in Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring trim levels.
Every 2026 Forester is equipped with the latest generation of Subaru EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology, including advanced active safety features including Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, Steering Responsive Headlights, and High Beam Assist.
The 2026 Forester has earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award following the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s latest round of vehicle ratings. The rating applies to all trim levels of the Subaru Forester, including the Subaru Forester Hybrid, marking Subaru Forester’s 10th IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Indiana – Subaru Forester Hybrid Now in Production
Click for more.
Subaru Of Indiana Automotive (Subaru Corp. NASDAQ: FUJHF) began hybrid production this week when a 2026 Forester Hybrid Premium in Autumn Green Metallic drove off one of its assembly lines.* Forester is first hybrid vehicle to be produced by the automaker in the U.S. All Subaru Forester models sold in the U.S. are now assembled at the automaker’s facility in Lafayette, IN. SIA began production of the 2026 Forester gas model on 7 October 2025.
“Bringing hybrid vehicle assembly to our facility has been in the works for five years,” said Scott Brand, president and chief operating officer of SIA. “Seeing the start of mass production is highly rewarding and the culmination of a lot of hard work by our associates.”
SIA is Subaru’s only manufacturing facility outside of Japan and currently assembles the Ascent, Crosstrek, and Forester models. Since beginning production in 1989, the facility has assembled more than 6 million Subaru vehicles.
The 2026 Subaru Forester is available in six trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Touring, and Wilderness trim levels, and is available at Subaru retailers nationwide. The Subaru Forester Hybrid is available in Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring trim levels.
Every 2026 Forester is equipped with the latest generation of Subaru EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology, including advanced active safety features including Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, Steering Responsive Headlights, and High Beam Assist.
The 2026 Forester has earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award following the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s latest round of vehicle ratings. The rating applies to all trim levels of the Subaru Forester, including the Subaru Forester Hybrid, marking Subaru Forester’s 10th IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.