Sia Rated Top Plant By Jd Power And Associates

LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Aug. 30, 2013 - PRLog -- July 26, 2013

Contact: Jennifer McGarvey
(P) 765.449.6269 (C) 765.413.5531
jennifer.mcgarvey@subaru-sia.com

LAFAYETTE AUTO PLANT RANKED HIGHEST PLATINUM PLANT BY J.D. POWER

(Lafayette, IN) During a ceremony at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA) this afternoon, J.D. Power Representative, Bob Neis, presented the J.D. Power Platinum Plant Assembly Line Quality Award to SIA President and CEO, Masaki Okawara, for SIA’s production of the Toyota Camry (referred to by J.D. Power as Toyota Motor Corporation’s Lafayette B Plant) for producing models yielding the fewest defects or malfunctions of any automotive plant in the world that supplies the U.S. market. SIA surpassed other automakers by scoring only 14 defects per 100 vehicles for their production of the Toyota Camry.

SIA Associates gathered at the end of the Camry production line to watch as SIA’s President and CEO, Masaki Okawara accepted the prestigious JD Power Platinum Plant Assembly Line Quality Award. “One of the most important factors in the growth of sales in the highly competitive automotive market is to be known for having a superior level of quality”, stated Okawara. “The relationship between Subaru and Toyota has allowed us to learn many important things about the Toyota production system, and we have combined those best practices with best practices from Subaru production to develop a quality system that ensures that we can satisfy the demands of our customers.” This is SIA’s first Platinum Plant Quality award.

“Congratulations to SIA for receiving the J.D. Power Platinum Plant Assembly Line Quality Award,” said Simon Nagata, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America. “Toyota is grateful to Fuji Heavy, SIA and its team members for their commitment to quality and safety. Let’s continue to work together to reinforce our long-term collaboration as business partners and exceed customers’ expectations.”

The 2013 U.S. Initial Quality Study is based on responses from more than 83,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2013 model-year cars, trucks and multi-activity vehicles surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study is based on a 233-question battery designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate identification of problems and drive product improvement. The study was fielded between February and May 2013.

About the Toyota Camry

The Camry is the best-selling passenger car in America. 80% of all Camrys sold in the past 20 years are still on the road today. Toyota’s first generation Camry was introduced to the U.S. market in 1983. In its first full year of sales, Camry sold 52,651 vehicles. Three decades later, 773 of those Camrys are still in operation. Overall, there are approximately 6.4 million Camrys on the road, further echoing the quality, reliability and durability still represented by Camry seven generations down the line. Today Camry is also the most American made car with 75 percent of its content sourced domestically, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

About SIA

Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA), a subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd., is the home of North American Subaru production. Models built at the Lafayette, Indiana plant include the Subaru Legacy, Outback and Tribeca. SIA also produces the Toyota Camry under contract with Toyota. SIA employs over 3,600 Associates, and every Associate is committed to quality, safety and environmental stewardship. An industry leader in environmental stewardship, SIA was the first auto assembly plant in America to achieve zero landfill status, and SIA’s entire 832-acre site has been designated a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SIA’s community outreach programs include providing charitable contributions and corporate sponsorships, hosting charitable events on-site, donating vehicles and vehicle parts to educational institutions and encouraging Associate volunteerism, which supports hundreds of non-profit organizations and schools throughout Indiana annually. SIA was the recipient of the 2012 Governor’s Award for Corporate Service. For more information, visit www.subaru-sia.com.