(May 10, 2011) Japanese business daily Nikkan Kogyo reported today that two U.S.-built Japanese vehicles would be discontinued.

No surprise — the slow-selling Subaru Tribeca SUV will, according to the paper, be discontinued at the Indiana plant that also builds the popular Outback and Legacy. Ony 910units were built in the first four months of this year.

Somewhat surprising — the Mazda6 mid-sized sedan will be discontinued at the Flat Rock, Mich., plant that operates as a joint venture with Ford. No word on a replacement for the Mazda6 or even if Mazda will continue to build vehicles at Flat Rock.

2008 Tribeca

Spokesmen for both companies declined to comment on the report.

The Mazda6 is a big reason Mazda can't turn a regional operating profit in North America — one of its most important markets, the paper said. The company planned to produce 100,000 Mazda6 units annually at the Flat Rock plant, when the redesigned sedan was launched there in mid-2008. Then the financial crisis hit. And last year the plant built only 45,168 units.

Source: AutoWeek