Subaru bids farewell to internal combustion engines: from 2028, it will sell only electric cars
The Japanese brand’s sensational decision marks the end of an era in which it was in the spotlight thanks to its iconic boxer engine and a sophisticated mechanical all-wheel-drive system that was highly regarded.
Subaru has officially confirmed that it will cease selling petrol and diesel models in Europe for good, announcing a complete transition to a range consisting exclusively of fully electric cars from 2028. The decision, reported by the online newspaper Nikkei, which cites German sources within the brand, goes against the trend adopted by almost all other manufacturers who, having previously announced the end of internal combustion engines, have since brought them back into favour, given the difficulty fully electric models are having in gaining a foothold on the Old Continent, partly due to issues with charging infrastructure in certain countries. Furthermore, it is surprising because, whilst Subaru will be embracing this electric revolution in Europe, it will not be abandoning internal combustion engines entirely; for example, in the United States and Japan, it will continue to sell models with internal combustion engines, including full-hybrid variants.
Subaru: a choice driven primarily by the Euro 7 standards
The Japanese carmaker has been driven to take this radical step by the stringent requirements of the Euro 7 emissions standards and European regulations on driver assistance systems. For a manufacturer operating in Europe with niche sales volumes, the technological adjustments and compliance costs associated with developing clean internal combustion engines have become a significant burden for a niche manufacturer.
Subaru: the timeline for the transition to an all-electric era
Sales of models with non-electrified petrol engines and mild-hybrid engines will be phased out in several stages, starting at the end of this year, and will be completed very quickly: by 2027. The first Subaru to be phased out of the European market will be the Outback, powered by a non-electrified 2.5-litre boxer engine. Next in line will be the Impreza, Crosstreck and Forester, all fitted with 2-litre boxer engines featuring mild hybrid technology – though not the 48-volt system found in most such systems currently on the market. Therefore, from 2028 onwards, Subaru will offer only BEV models in Europe. Initially, the range will consist of three high-riding models developed
Alongside Toyota: the Solterra, which has been on sale for some time but with little success; the all-new e-Outback; and the Uncharted compact SUV.
