Subaru will end sales of all combustion engine and hybrid vehicles in Europe by the end of 2027, switching to a purely electric lineup.
Subaru Germany confirmed the decision in comments to the German motoring magazine Auto Motor und Sport, marking the approaching end of the Japanese carmaker's long association with traditional boxer engines on the European continent.
The company said the decision stems from tightening European Union emissions regulations, coupled with new legal requirements for advanced driver assistance systems and mandatory vehicle safety technologies. Adapting current vehicle architectures to comply with these stringent European mandates would require massive financial investment, leading Subaru to phase out its combustion engines rather than absorb the high cost of engineering compliance.
Subaru has defined its engineering reputation for decades through the use of horizontally opposed boxer engines, in which cylinders lie flat and pistons move horizontally toward and away from each other. The layout takes its name from the motion of the pistons, which resembles prize fighters punching back and forth. The design lowers a vehicle's centre of gravity and minimises engine vibration, providing balanced handling when paired with the company's permanent all-wheel drive systems.
Timeline for European model withdrawal
The departure of combustion models from European showrooms will take place in phases, starting with the Subaru Outback estate. First launched as an all-wheel drive estate, the vehicle became a long-standing cornerstone of the brand's European presence. The company will discontinue European sales of the Outback by the end of 2026, meaning prospective buyers wishing to purchase the model must complete their orders before the end of the year.
Sales of three additional combustion models will conclude during 2027, when the Impreza hatchback, the Crosstrek compact crossover, and the Forester sport utility vehicle exit the European market. Current versions of all three models rely on hybrid-assisted four-cylinder petrol engines, but Subaru confirmed that hybrid variants will also be removed under the regional strategy.
Despite the planned withdrawal, Subaru has not permanently ruled out hybrid technology for European motorists. According to a report by the electric vehicle news outlet Electrek, the manufacturer could reintroduce hybrid models to its European catalogue in the future if commercial circumstances or regulatory frameworks change.
Three electric models planned for 2028
From 2028, Subaru's European showroom range will consist entirely of three battery-electric vehicles: the Solterra, the Uncharted, and the E-Outback. The company plans to position the trio across distinct vehicle segments to provide a varied zero-emission catalogue for European drivers.
Subaru launched its electric transition with the Solterra, an all-wheel drive crossover developed through a joint engineering project with fellow Japanese manufacturer Toyota. The arrival of the Uncharted and the E-Outback will expand that single-vehicle presence into a dedicated electric lineup, replacing the petrol models that established the brand across the region.
The transition to a purely electric portfolio does not apply to the United States market, where Subaru will continue selling internal combustion engine vehicles. The relaxation of American emissions standards and the elimination of financial penalties for non-compliant manufacturers have led Subaru to adopt contrasting strategies in the two regions, keeping petrol engines on sale in North America while European operations shift exclusively to electric power.
