The Japanese company Subaru has decided to end sales of all its vehicles relying on internal combustion engines in the European market by the end of 2027 at the latest, transitioning the lineup offered on the continent to fully electric vehicles. Subaru's German branch confirmed this move, noting that the decision to abandon the famous traditional "Boxer" engines was driven by the European Union's strict requirements regarding emissions and advanced driver-assistance systems.
Schedule for Phasing Out Fuel Models from the European Market
This transition effectively begins with the discontinuation of the popular wagon model "Outback" by the end of the current year. It is scheduled to be followed in 2027 by three other models that rely on 2.0-liter mild-hybrid Boxer engines: the "Impreza," "Crosstrek," and "Forester."
By 2028, Subaru's European lineup will be limited to three electric SUVs developed in cooperation with Toyota: the "Solterra," "E-Outback," and "Uncharted," which represent electric counterparts to the Toyota bZ4X, bZ4X Touring, and C-HR+ models. Although the company has not ruled out launching fully hybrid vehicles in the future in Europe, it currently has no confirmed official plans to do so.
Self-Developed Electric Technologies to Decouple from Toyota
In parallel with this transition, Subaru showcased for the first time to the media a suite of electric technologies developed in-house, in a clear effort to reduce its ongoing technical reliance on Toyota for its future generations of electric vehicles. The announced technologies included the first dedicated electric platform developed entirely by Subaru, alongside modern batteries and electric motors, and an integrated control unit that supports over-the-air (OTA) software updates.
The company displayed a prototype built on an Outback chassis equipped with an in-house developed all-wheel-drive system, producing a total output of 509 horsepower (380 kW). Subaru explained that the new system features lighter weight and higher energy efficiency, allowing the car to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h in less than 4 seconds, with the company set to begin commercially integrating these technologies into production vehicles starting around 2029.
What Does This Transition Mean Practically?
Subaru's decision highlights the direct impact of European legislation on the strategies of automakers that hold limited market shares on the continent; as investing in modifying fuel engines to meet emissions standards becomes economically unfeasible. This strict move is currently limited to Europe, while the company continues to sell its traditional hybrid vehicles in major markets such as the United States, making the European market a critical testing ground for Subaru's ability to build a competitive presence by relying entirely on electricity before launching its independent platform.