SIA rolls out first Subaru Ascent at Lafayette plant

Loud, upbeat music played over the speakers while hand clappers were passed out to all in attendance for the rollout of the new three-row, eight passenger SUV.

The newest vehicle to be produced at Subaru of Indiana Automotive was announced in December 2017, adding more than 200 jobs and bringing the total annual production of vehicles at SIA up to 400,000.

Tom Easterday, senior executive vice president of SIA, said while the Subaru brand has extremely high customer loyalty, every year 20,000 Subaru customers were looking elsewhere for a larger vehicle.

"With the Ascent, those days are over. 'Love' is now, as you can see, bigger than ever," Easterday said. "The Ascent will draw thousands of new Subaru customers to our Subaru brand."