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Subaru's Wilderness series offers plenty of appeal from the Crosstrek and Forester to the upcoming 2026 Outback suited for rugged adventures. Yet the company's commitment to nature reaches further into the factories that produce these models. Back in 2003 the U.S. production site known as Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) earned distinction as the nation's first auto facility certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation.

This status allows local wildlife to thrive in surroundings that stay clean and supportive of their requirements. Species such as bald eagles great blue herons vultures and great horned owls frequently appear overhead while coyotes deer snapping turtles and additional animals inhabit the 832 acres of surrounding forests and waterways.

SIA pursues further sustainability steps beyond this achievement. The company notes that the plant became the first U.S. auto assembly site to reach zero-landfill status meaning all generated waste undergoes recycling or reuse rather than disposal. In the stamping area for example excess metal scraps once headed only for basic recycling now form smaller parts instead. SIA also led as the first American auto plant to ban smoking on site and the first to secure energy management certification under ISO 14001 and 50001 standards.

Overview of SIA Production History

The facility has assembled numerous Subaru models across decades along with vehicles from partner brands. Originally named Subaru-Isuzu Automotive the plant reflected a joint venture and rolled out its first units in 1989 including a Subaru Legacy sedan and an Isuzu truck. Even after parting ways with Isuzu in 2003 the site produced Toyota Camry sedans between 2007 and 2016.

On the Subaru side SIA has created models including the Baja Impreza Tribeca and Outback. Current production focuses on three Subaru nameplates led by the three-row Ascent. The Forester also comes from this Indiana location with every trim built there including the hybrid variant introduced for 2025 that delivers strong efficiency ratings up to 35 mpg city 34 mpg highway and 35 mpg combined. A hybrid Wilderness version of the Forester is slated to arrive for the 2027 model year.

The lineup further includes gas-powered Crosstrek variants while hybrid Crosstrek units are made at the company's Gunma site in Japan. That facility advances its own environmental practices by relying on power generated without greenhouse gas output.