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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Subaru factory in Lafayette has started building a redesigned Outback SUV.
Factory workers gathered Monday to celebrate the first day of production on the 2015 model, which is among three Subaru vehicles built there.
Subaru of Indiana president Toshiaki Tamegai told the Journal & Courier that the Outback is essential to the success of the automaker.
Subaru is working on plans for a $400 million expansion and upgrade of the Lafayette factory. Company officials say the start of production on the Impreza small car at the factory in 2016 will make up for Toyota Motor Corp.'s decision to stop building cars at the Lafayette plant. Toyota last month said it would shift production of about 100,000 Camry units to Georgetown, Ky.
Subaru of Indiana vice president Tom Easterday told WLFI-TV the 3,600-worker factory is scheduled to make more than 300,000 vehicles by the end of March 2015.
Subaru also makes Legacy and Tribeca models in Lafayette.
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