Subaru ends WRX production
AWD icon wraps production for Japanese customers, but seemingly not for export marketsThe News
Subaru has ended production of the WRX performance sedan in Japan and will stop taking orders in its native market as of May 18. What this means for Australia is unclear, but it’s reportedly business as usual in North America.
The Key Details
- Subaru WRX production has ended in/for Japan
- Orders will continue being taken in Japan until May 18
- Australian impact unclear for now
- Subaru of America says it’s a “Japan-only deal”
The Finer Details
The news broke via the WRX’s Japanese landing page, with a small notice reading: “Regarding the current model, we will cease accepting new orders on May 18, 2026, as production has ended.”
The revelation aligns with carsales’ recent warning the current WRX could be on its last legs going by the imminent arrival of the limited-run Club Spec Evo, seeing as Club Spec variants are typically released towards the end of a WRX’s model life.
carsales has contacted Subaru Australia for comment – and will update this report as soon as we hear back – but for now, it’s Subaru of America furthering the plot.
Contacted by US outlet Motor1, the North American division said: “That’s a Japan-only deal. Nothing changing for US.”
The Road Ahead
None of the dealerships surveyed by carsales in the composition of this article knew anything about Australian production ending (yet), but the wording of a sub-clause in the Japanese notice suggests the brand could be preparing a new model.
“Furthermore, the WRX S4 STI Sport grade will be discontinued with the current model,” it reads.
The VB WRX has been with us since April 2022, meaning it’s just under four years into what’s traditionally a seven-year lifecycle, making it ripe for a facelift or major model update.
The all-paw performance sedan received a comprehensive technology and safety upgrade last year, but beyond that, there haven’t been any major enhancements you could label as a mid-life update – previous generations received overhauled chassis’, upgraded cabins, new designs, more equipment and uprated engines as part of their facelifts.
So for now at least, it’s business as usual for Subaru’s most iconic model, however it’s worth noting Mazda wrapped production of the 6 for Japan in January 2024 before completely winding down 12 months later.
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