Subaru to Halt WRX S4 and STI Sport Orders in Japan from May 2026

Subaru has announced that it will cease accepting new orders for the WRX S4 and its special edition variant, the WRX S4 STI Sport, in the Japanese market effective May 18, 2026. Both models will be officially discontinued within 2026 as they fail to comply with Japan’s latest noise and emissions regulations. Currently, the WRX S4 is the only WRX version available in Japan, offered exclusively with a CVT transmission and positioned similarly to the U.S.-spec WRX GT. Notably, the previously announced limited-edition WRX STI S# (limited to 600 units) remains unaffected and will be delivered as scheduled. Subaru emphasized that this adjustment does not impact the U.S. market, where the WRX continues to be sold normally. The company has not yet revealed a successor plan for the WRX S4 in Japan following its discontinuation but has already begun mass production of its all-electric model, the Trailseeker. Rumors suggest that Subaru may resume taking WRX orders in Japan as early as next year, potentially reintroducing a manual transmission option, though no official confirmation or detailed plans have been provided.