LAFAYETTE, Ind. — What has three rows, up to eight passenger seats, 19 cup holders and a panoramic sunroof?
That would be the new Subaru Ascent, which was revealed on Friday at Subaru of Indiana Automotive.
The Ascent will be the fourth vehicle manufactured at SIA, joining the Outback, Legacy and Impreza.
“The Subaru Ascent is a great addition to our production mix,” said Tom Easterday, senior executive vice president of SIA. “This great new family vehicle allows us to create hundreds of new jobs at SIA and also at our suppliers in Indiana and across the country.”
The new Ascent line will add more than 200 jobs and bring the total annual production of vehicles at SIA up to 400,000. Since it opened its doors in 1989 SIA has produced roughly five million vehicles.
Roger Feldlhaus, executive director of Region 4 Workforce Board, said Lafayette is uniquely situated to become a powerhouse of advanced manufacturing, and the more jobs added at companies like SIA, Kirby Risk and Caterpillar the more this becomes a reality.
“Future career opportunities are largely going to be in advanced manufacturing,” Feldhaus said. “Even though nationally this number has diminished we have a unique regional advantage here. A lot of it has to do with transportation, existing industry and institutions like Purdue University.”