Subaru is temporarily suspending production at three plants in Japan after a work was crushed to death. The factories producing among others, the Forester, Crosstrek, and BRZ halted production after a 25-ton mold fell on a worker at the company’s Yajima assembly plant in Gunma, Japan. It’s not clear when production would resume.
The 60-year worker and a 35-year veteran of Subaru was reportedly operating a crane by himself using a remote control to lift and move 25-ton molds. One of the molds collapsed, pinning the worker between another mold. An autopsy determined the cause of death as asphyxiation.
The production shutdown affects Subaru’s main production hub. The Yajima plant, where the accident occurred, makes the Impreza, Outback, Crosstrek, and Forester. The nearby Main plant makes the BRZ, Impreza, and Crosstrek as well as the WRX.
Subaru’s production in Japan accounts for about 63 percent of the export-dependent company’s global output.
The carmaker has been racing to recoup lost volume since the pandemic and global semiconductor shortage slowdown.
In addition, Subaru’s Yajima and Oizumi plants will play a crucial role in the automaker’s electrification shift.
Subaru will add a dedicated electric vehicle assembly line at Oizumi as early as 2027, with capacity for 200,000 vehicles a year. Meanwhile, a line at Yajima will have capacity for 200,000 EVs a year around 2026.
For a brand that takes pride in the safety of their new vehicles, this is really ironic.
ReplyDeleteThe all time 4x4 of the subaru is really over rated. 98% of the time you dont really use and need it. It only makes the car expensive and harder to maintain due to the added mechanical bits. Its really silly when people buy subarus when 99%of the time they are city dwellers.
ReplyDeleteIt won't even affect 1% of the car owner population in the PH. No one buys subarus here lol.
ReplyDeleteAre ya sure? Cause in my city here, in Davao, there's always one in every corner
DeleteParang final destination lang ah
ReplyDelete