Subaru WRX Discontinued in Japan, U.S. Market Unaffected

Subaru has announced it will halt production of the WRX S4 and WRX S4 STI models in Japan and stop accepting new orders starting May 18. However, Subaru clarified that this move applies only to the Japanese market—the U.S.-spec WRX will continue to be sold unchanged. Currently, the U.S.-market WRX is still produced at Subaru’s Yajima Plant in Gunma, Japan, and imported to the United States. Despite a sales decline of over 40% in the U.S. in 2025, with only around 11,000 units sold, Subaru has reintroduced a base-trim WRX for the 2026 model year, lowering its starting price by more than $5,000 in an effort to boost sales. Since 2022, the WRX has been built on the same platform as the U.S.-made Legacy and Crosstrek. Subaru emphasized that, even amid sluggish sales and the absence of a true STI variant for now, the brand remains committed to the performance car segment.