SIA plant in Lafayette, Indiana makes its 3Mth vehicle.
Apparently if you make quality cars you then do not need a government check. Go figure.
Someone call GM.
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http://www.jconline.com/article/20090930/NEWS/909300343&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL3 million down, more to come, SIA promises
By MAX SHOWALTER • mshowalter@jconline.com • September 30, 2009
When their overtime shift ended Tuesday afternoon, associates at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. plant in Lafayette clapped and cheered as their employer reached another milestone.
A silver 2010 Outback 2.5i was the 3 millionth vehicle to roll off the production line since SIA began building cars and trucks 20 years ago. The first debuted on Sept. 11, 1989.
Susan Retherford, the first associate hired at SIA, was among the employees who held a large sign that heralded the car of the hour as it was driven off the assembly line amid a shower of confetti.
"It was fun," said Retherford, a Lafayette resident who initially was hired as a temporary worker in May 1987. She became a full-time employee in September of that year and now is a member of the technical support staff in the Toyota Camry trim and final assembly area.
"I've been here 22 years," Retherford said. "I enjoy working for the company. We've grown a lot since I first started. I've seen a lot of change, but it also stays the same. We're still a team -- one big family."
Retherford was the first in a long line of employees at the plant, where production levels topped out at 216,198 in 1998 and are projected at 158,000 this year.
"Since the first vehicle was built at SIA, 9,000 associates and temporaries have been involved," said Motokiyo Nomura, SIA president and chief executive officer.
Over the past 20 years the lineup has included Subaru Legacy, Outback, Tribeca and Baja models; Toyota Camry; Isuzu Axiom, Amigo and Rodeo; and the Honda Passport.
"This milestone is a tribute to all SIA associates ... and others who play a part in this success," senior vice president Tom Easterday told the associates. "With the popularity of the Outback, Legacy and Camry, I'll bet the 4 millionth vehicle is going to come around a lot sooner than we planned.
"Thank you for your hard work, dedication and focus on safety and environmental stewardship."
Employment at the plant is currently 3,300, which includes 100 temporary workers and 10 full-time associates who have been hired since August.
Success of the recent "Cash for Clunkers" program and early customer acceptance of the 2010 Legacy and Outback models prompted the additional hiring and helped Subaru reach a record monthly sales total of 28,863 vehicles in August.
"It's resulted in Subaru having only a 16-day inventory on Sept. 1. It's normally 60 or 70 days," said Easterday.
Easterday said he anticipates the one hour of overtime Subaru employees are working on most weekdays and the eight-hour overtime shifts on two Saturdays in October will continue.
"We have tentative plans for additional daily overtime and some Saturday overtime in November and December," he said. "All we need is a little more economic recovery."
