Goodbye to its flagship car after 36 years of production: “This is a bittersweet moment for our company and our associates”
After over three decades, the Subaru Legacy is being pulled from the production line.
And just like that, all good things must come to an end. Subaru recently pulled the plug on the production of the famous Legacy sedan after 36 years, marking the end of an era for the car brand’s longest-running model.
The final unit left the assembly line in Indiana earlier this week, and this sad moment is the conclusion of nearly four decades of U.S. production, which began on September 11, 1986.
Introduced in 1989, the Legacy was Subaru’s first model built in the United States, developed specifically for the American market and played a pivotal role in establishing Subaru’s presence in the competitive midsize sedan segment. Over the years, the Legacy evolved through seven generations, offering features such as all-wheel drive and boxer engines.
Approximately 1.4 million units were produced during its run, with MotorWeek putting that down to it being “a sensible alternative to mainstream sedans.”
The Legacy was also a key player in Subaru laying the foundation in its strong rally heritage, as the RS variant was what Colin McRae drove in his first WRC win in 1993.
The reason behind the discontinuation of the Legacy is simple: the market has moved on from wanting midsize sedans, and now Subaru has redirected its focus toward SUVs and electric vehicles.
Their main Legacy plant will now concentrate on producing the Forester and Forester Hybrid, aligning with Subaru’s strategy to meet environmental considerations and the aforementioned shift in the automobile market.
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