Fact check: Is Subaru closing two US plants?

1. Summary of the results

The claim about Subaru closing two US plants appears to be completely unfounded. In fact, Subaru only operates one plant in the US - located in Lafayette, Ohio, and another in Ontario, Canada ^[1]. Both facilities are not only operational but actively producing vehicles. The Lafayette plant has been operating since 1984 ^[1] and has actually increased production by 9.6% this year ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual points need to be considered:

• Subaru is actually reshuffling its supply chain due to trade tariffs, which affects vehicle imports to Canada ^[3]
• The company recently experienced a temporary shutdown, but in Japan, not the US - at the Yajima assembly plant in Gunma prefecture following a worker fatality ^[4]
• The company's CEO, Atsushi Osaki, has explicitly stated they are "dedicated to offering our American customers a wide range of options" ^[3]
• While there have been some monthly production decreases, these are part of normal inventory adjustments ^[2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement appears to be based on several potential misunderstandings:

• It may have confused temporary production slowdowns with permanent closures ^[2]
• There might be confusion between US and Japanese facilities, as there was a temporary shutdown in Japan ^[4]
• The statement assumes Subaru has two US plants, when in reality they have one US plant and one Canadian plant ^[1]

This type of misinformation could benefit:

• Competitors looking to create uncertainty about Subaru's market presence
• Market speculators who might profit from stock price fluctuations based on negative news
• Labor unions or local politicians who might use such claims to pressure for better terms or increased support for local manufacturing