diff --git a/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/SitePathInitializer.java b/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/SitePathInitializer.java
index 0fe8e231b9..978b87cc52 100644
--- a/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/SitePathInitializer.java
+++ b/gerrit-pgm/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/SitePathInitializer.java
@@ -100,17 +100,17 @@ public class SitePathInitializer {
     chmod(0700, site.tmp_dir);
 
     extractMailExample("Abandoned.soy");
-    extractMailExample("AddKey.vm");
-    extractMailExample("ChangeFooter.vm");
-    extractMailExample("ChangeSubject.vm");
+    extractMailExample("AddKey.soy");
+    extractMailExample("ChangeFooter.soy");
+    extractMailExample("ChangeSubject.soy");
     extractMailExample("Comment.soy");
     extractMailExample("CommentFooter.soy");
     extractMailExample("DeleteReviewer.soy");
     extractMailExample("DeleteVote.soy");
     extractMailExample("Footer.soy");
     extractMailExample("Merged.soy");
-    extractMailExample("NewChange.vm");
-    extractMailExample("RegisterNewEmail.vm");
+    extractMailExample("NewChange.soy");
+    extractMailExample("RegisterNewEmail.soy");
     extractMailExample("ReplacePatchSet.soy");
     extractMailExample("Restored.soy");
     extractMailExample("Reverted.soy");
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/AddKeySender.java b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/AddKeySender.java
index 14eb124a7a..3e2d2d70bb 100644
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/AddKeySender.java
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/AddKeySender.java
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ public class AddKeySender extends OutgoingEmail {
 
   @Override
   protected void format() throws EmailException {
-    appendText(velocifyFile("AddKey.vm"));
+    appendText(textTemplate("AddKey"));
   }
 
   public String getEmail() {
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeEmail.java b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeEmail.java
index 0332620cea..863d097e2e 100644
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeEmail.java
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeEmail.java
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ public abstract class ChangeEmail extends NotificationEmail {
   @Override
   protected void format() throws EmailException {
     formatChange();
-    appendText(velocifyFile("ChangeFooter.vm"));
+    appendText(textTemplate("ChangeFooter"));
     try {
       TreeSet<String> names = new TreeSet<>();
       for (Account.Id who : changeData.reviewers().all()) {
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ public abstract class ChangeEmail extends NotificationEmail {
   }
 
   private void setChangeSubjectHeader() throws EmailException {
-    setHeader("Subject", velocifyFile("ChangeSubject.vm"));
+    setHeader("Subject", textTemplate("ChangeSubject"));
   }
 
   /** Get a link to the change; null if the server doesn't know its own address. */
@@ -455,6 +455,16 @@ public abstract class ChangeEmail extends NotificationEmail {
     changeData.put("ownerEmail", getNameEmailFor(change.getOwner()));
     soyContext.put("change", changeData);
 
+    String subject = change.getSubject();
+    changeData.put("subject", subject);
+    // shortSubject is the subject limited to 63 characters, with an ellipsis if
+    // it exceeds that.
+    if (subject.length() < 64) {
+      changeData.put("shortSubject", subject);
+    } else {
+      changeData.put("shortSubject", subject.substring(0, 60) + "...");
+    }
+
     Map<String, Object> patchSetData = new HashMap<>();
     patchSetData.put("patchSetId", patchSet.getPatchSetId());
     patchSetData.put("refName", patchSet.getRefName());
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/MailSoyTofuProvider.java b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/MailSoyTofuProvider.java
index bd91a3e590..6b24e483a2 100644
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/MailSoyTofuProvider.java
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/MailSoyTofuProvider.java
@@ -37,12 +37,17 @@ public class MailSoyTofuProvider implements Provider<SoyTofu> {
   // Note: will fail to construct the tofu object if this array is empty.
   private static final String[] TEMPLATES = {
     "Abandoned.soy",
+    "AddKey.soy",
+    "ChangeSubject.soy",
+    "ChangeFooter.soy",
     "Comment.soy",
     "CommentFooter.soy",
     "DeleteReviewer.soy",
     "DeleteVote.soy",
     "Footer.soy",
     "Merged.soy",
+    "NewChange.soy",
+    "RegisterNewEmail.soy",
     "ReplacePatchSet.soy",
     "Restored.soy",
     "Reverted.soy"
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/NewChangeSender.java b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/NewChangeSender.java
index c95118db39..a7eb0af68c 100644
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/NewChangeSender.java
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/NewChangeSender.java
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public abstract class NewChangeSender extends ChangeEmail {
 
   @Override
   protected void formatChange() throws EmailException {
-    appendText(velocifyFile("NewChange.vm"));
+    appendText(textTemplate("NewChange"));
   }
 
   public List<String> getReviewerNames() {
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/RegisterNewEmailSender.java b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/RegisterNewEmailSender.java
index c7231d34b4..405d9f98ad 100644
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/RegisterNewEmailSender.java
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/RegisterNewEmailSender.java
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public class RegisterNewEmailSender extends OutgoingEmail {
 
   @Override
   protected void format() throws EmailException {
-    appendText(velocifyFile("RegisterNewEmail.vm"));
+    appendText(textTemplate("RegisterNewEmail"));
   }
 
   public String getUserNameEmail() {
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/AddKey.soy b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/AddKey.soy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..aa2b27d2b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/AddKey.soy
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2016 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+{namespace com.google.gerrit.server.mail.template}
+
+/**
+ * The .AddKey template will determine the contents of the email related to
+ * adding a new SSH or GPG key to an account.
+ * @param email
+ */
+{template .AddKey autoescape="strict" kind="text"}
+  One or more new {$email.keyType} keys have been added to Gerrit Code Review at
+  {sp}{$email.gerritHost}:
+
+  {\n}
+  {\n}
+
+  {if $email.sshKey}
+    {$email.sshKey}
+  {elseif $email.gpgKeys}
+    {$email.gpgKeys}
+  {/if}
+
+  {\n}
+  {\n}
+
+  If this is not expected, please contact your Gerrit Administrators
+  immediately.
+
+  {\n}
+  {\n}
+
+  You can also manage your {$email.keyType} keys by visiting
+  {\n}
+  {if $email.sshKey}
+    {$email.gerritUrl}#/settings/ssh-keys
+  {elseif $email.gpgKeys}
+    {$email.gerritUrl}#/settings/gpg-keys
+  {/if}
+  {\n}
+  {if $email.userNameEmail}
+    (while signed in as {$email.userNameEmail})
+  {else}
+    (while signed in as {$email.email})
+  {/if}
+
+  {\n}
+  {\n}
+
+  If clicking the link above does not work, copy and paste the URL in a new
+  browser window instead.
+
+  {\n}
+  {\n}
+
+  This is a send-only email address.  Replies to this message will not be read
+  or answered.
+{/template}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/AddKey.vm b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/AddKey.vm
deleted file mode 100644
index c60ce8b14a..0000000000
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/AddKey.vm
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,61 +0,0 @@
-## Copyright (C) 2015 The Android Open Source Project
-##
-## Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-## you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-## You may obtain a copy of the License at
-##
-## http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-##
-## Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-## distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-## WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-## See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-## limitations under the License.
-##
-##
-## Template Type:
-## -------------
-## This is a velocity mail template, see: http://velocity.apache.org and the
-## gerrit-docs:config-mail.txt for more info on modifying gerrit mail templates.
-##
-## Template File Names and extensions:
-## ----------------------------------
-## Gerrit will use templates ending in ".vm" but will ignore templates ending
-## in ".vm.example".  If a .vm template does not exist, the default internal
-## gerrit template which is the same as the .vm.example will be used.  If you
-## want to override the default template, copy the .vm.example file to a .vm
-## file and edit it appropriately.
-##
-## This Template:
-## --------------
-## The AddKey.vm template will determine the contents of the email
-## related to adding a new SSH or GPG key to an account.
-##
-One or more new ${email.keyType} keys have been added to Gerrit Code Review at ${email.gerritHost}:
-
-#if($email.sshKey)
-$email.sshKey
-#elseif($email.gpgKeys)
-$email.gpgKeys
-#end
-
-If this is not expected, please contact your Gerrit Administrators
-immediately.
-
-You can also manage your ${email.keyType} keys by visiting
-#if($email.sshKey)
-$email.gerritUrl#/settings/ssh-keys
-#elseif($email.gpgKeys)
-$email.gerritUrl#/settings/gpg-keys
-#end
-#if($email.userNameEmail)
-(while signed in as $email.userNameEmail)
-#else
-(while signed in as $email.email)
-#end
-
-If clicking the link above does not work, copy and paste the URL in a
-new browser window instead.
-
-This is a send-only email address.  Replies to this message will not
-be read or answered.
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeFooter.soy b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeFooter.soy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9906dd8d0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeFooter.soy
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2016 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+{namespace com.google.gerrit.server.mail.template}
+
+/**
+ * The .ChangeFooter template will determine the contents of the footer text
+ * that will be appended to ALL emails related to changes.
+ * @param branch
+ * @param change
+ * @param changeId
+ * @param email
+ * @param messageClass
+ * @param patchSet
+ * @param projectName
+ */
+{template .ChangeFooter autoescape="strict" kind="text"}
+  --{sp}
+  {\n}
+
+  {if $email.changeUrl}
+    To view, visit {$email.changeUrl}{\n}
+  {/if}
+
+  {if $email.settingsUrl}
+    To unsubscribe, visit {$email.settingsUrl}{\n}
+  {/if}
+
+  {if $email.changeUrl or $email.settingsUrl}
+    {\n}
+  {/if}
+
+  Gerrit-MessageType: {$messageClass}{\n}
+  Gerrit-Change-Id: {$changeId}{\n}
+  Gerrit-PatchSet: {$patchSet.patchSetId}{\n}
+  Gerrit-Project: {$projectName}{\n}
+  Gerrit-Branch: {$branch.shortName}{\n}
+  Gerrit-Owner: {$change.ownerEmail}{\n}
+{/template}
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeFooter.vm b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeFooter.vm
deleted file mode 100644
index f1d3e90ab7..0000000000
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeFooter.vm
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-## Copyright (C) 2010 The Android Open Source Project
-##
-## Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-## you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-## You may obtain a copy of the License at
-##
-## http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-##
-## Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-## distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-## WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-## See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-## limitations under the License.
-##
-##
-## Template Type:
-## -------------
-## This is a velocity mail template, see: http://velocity.apache.org and the
-## gerrit-docs:config-mail.txt for more info on modifying gerrit mail templates.
-##
-## Template File Names and extensions:
-## ----------------------------------
-## Gerrit will use templates ending in ".vm" but will ignore templates ending
-## in ".vm.example".  If a .vm template does not exist, the default internal
-## gerrit template which is the same as the .vm.example will be used.  If you
-## want to override the default template, copy the .vm.example file to a .vm
-## file and edit it appropriately.
-##
-## This Template:
-## --------------
-## The ChangeFooter.vm template will determine the contents of the footer
-## text that will be appended to ALL emails related to changes.
-##
-#set ($SPACE = " ")
---$SPACE
-#if ($email.changeUrl)
-To view, visit $email.changeUrl
-#set ($notblank = 1)
-#end
-#if ($email.settingsUrl)
-To unsubscribe, visit $email.settingsUrl
-#set ($notblank = 1)
-#end
-#if ($notblank)
-
-#end
-Gerrit-MessageType: $messageClass
-Gerrit-Change-Id: $changeId
-Gerrit-PatchSet: $patchSet.patchSetId
-Gerrit-Project: $projectName
-Gerrit-Branch: $branch.shortName
-Gerrit-Owner: $email.getNameEmailFor($change.owner)
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeSubject.soy b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeSubject.soy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..98de6e7280
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeSubject.soy
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2016 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+{namespace com.google.gerrit.server.mail.template}
+
+/**
+ * The .ChangeSubject template will determine the contents of the email subject
+ * line for ALL emails related to changes.
+ * @param branch
+ * @param change
+ * @param shortProjectName
+ */
+{template .ChangeSubject autoescape="strict" kind="text"}
+  Change in {$shortProjectName}[{$branch.shortName}]: {$change.shortSubject}
+{/template}
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeSubject.vm b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeSubject.vm
deleted file mode 100644
index 4fd9a23150..0000000000
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/ChangeSubject.vm
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,42 +0,0 @@
-## Copyright (C) 2010 The Android Open Source Project
-##
-## Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-## you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-## You may obtain a copy of the License at
-##
-## http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-##
-## Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-## distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-## WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-## See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-## limitations under the License.
-##
-##
-## Template Type:
-## -------------
-## This is a velocity mail template, see: http://velocity.apache.org and the
-## gerrit-docs:config-mail.txt for more info on modifying gerrit mail templates.
-##
-## Template File Names and extensions:
-## ----------------------------------
-## Gerrit will use templates ending in ".vm" but will ignore templates ending
-## in ".vm.example".  If a .vm template does not exist, the default internal
-## gerrit template which is the same as the .vm.example will be used.  If you
-## want to override the default template, copy the .vm.example file to a .vm
-## file and edit it appropriately.
-##
-## This Template:
-## --------------
-## The ChangeSubject.vm template will determine the contents of the email
-## subject line for ALL emails related to changes.
-##
-## Optionally $change.originalSubject can be used for the first subject
-## in a change. This allows subject based email clients such as GMail
-## to thread comments together even if subsequent patch sets change the
-## first line of the commit message.
-##
-#macro(ellipsis $length $str)
-#if($str.length() > $length)#set($length = $length - 3)${str.substring(0,$length)}...#else$str#end
-#end
-Change in ${projectName.replaceAll('/.*/', '...')}[$branch.shortName]: #ellipsis(63, $change.subject)
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/Footer.soy b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/Footer.soy
index fe40b69b7c..6467e9580c 100644
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/Footer.soy
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/Footer.soy
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 {namespace com.google.gerrit.server.mail.template}
 
 /**
- * The footer template will determine the contents of the footer text
+ * The .Footer template will determine the contents of the footer text
  * appended to the end of all outgoing emails after the ChangeFooter and
  * CommentFooter.
  */
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/NewChange.soy b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/NewChange.soy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..296f625797
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/NewChange.soy
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2016 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+{namespace com.google.gerrit.server.mail.template}
+
+/**
+ * The .NewChange template will determine the contents of the email related to a
+ * user submitting a new change for review.
+ * @param change
+ * @param email
+ * @param fromName
+ * @param patchSet
+ * @param projectName
+ */
+{template .NewChange autoescape="strict" kind="text"}
+  {if $email.reviewerNames}
+    Hello{sp}
+    {foreach $reviewerName in $email.reviewerNames}
+      {if not isFirst($reviewerName)},{sp}{/if}
+      {$reviewerName}
+    {/foreach},
+
+    {\n}
+    {\n}
+
+    I'd like you to do a code review.
+
+    {if $email.changeUrl}
+      {sp}Please visit
+
+      {\n}
+      {\n}
+
+      {sp}{sp}{sp}{sp}{$email.changeUrl}
+
+      {\n}
+      {\n}
+
+      to review the following change.
+    {/if}
+  {else}
+    {$fromName} has uploaded a new change for review.
+    {if $email.changeUrl} ( {$email.changeUrl}{/if}
+  {/if}{\n}
+
+  {\n}
+  {\n}
+
+  Change subject: {$change.subject}{\n}
+  ......................................................................{\n}
+
+  {\n}
+
+  {$email.changeDetail}{\n}
+
+  {if $email.sshHost}
+    {\n}
+    {sp}{sp}git pull ssh:{print '//'}{$email.sshHost}/{$projectName}
+        {sp}{$patchSet.refName}
+    {\n}
+  {/if}
+
+  {if $email.includeDiff}
+    {\n}
+    {$email.unifiedDiff}
+    {\n}
+  {/if}
+{/template}
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/NewChange.vm b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/NewChange.vm
deleted file mode 100644
index 8b66e81b3c..0000000000
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/NewChange.vm
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
-## Copyright (C) 2010 The Android Open Source Project
-##
-## Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-## you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-## You may obtain a copy of the License at
-##
-## http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-##
-## Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-## distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-## WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-## See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-## limitations under the License.
-##
-##
-## Template Type:
-## -------------
-## This is a velocity mail template, see: http://velocity.apache.org and the
-## gerrit-docs:config-mail.txt for more info on modifying gerrit mail templates.
-##
-## Template File Names and extensions:
-## ----------------------------------
-## Gerrit will use templates ending in ".vm" but will ignore templates ending
-## in ".vm.example".  If a .vm template does not exist, the default internal
-## gerrit template which is the same as the .vm.example will be used.  If you
-## want to override the default template, copy the .vm.example file to a .vm
-## file and edit it appropriately.
-##
-## This Template:
-## --------------
-## The NewChange.vm template will determine the contents of the email related
-## to a user submitting a new change for review. It is a ChangeEmail: see
-## ChangeSubject.vm and ChangeFooter.vm.
-##
-#if($email.reviewerNames)
-Hello $email.joinStrings($email.reviewerNames, ', '),
-
-I'd like you to do a code review.#if($email.changeUrl)  Please visit
-
-    $email.changeUrl
-
-to review the following change.
-#end
-#else
-$fromName has uploaded a new change for review.#**
-*##if($email.changeUrl) ( $email.changeUrl )#end
-#end
-
-
-Change subject: $change.subject
-......................................................................
-
-$email.changeDetail
-#if($email.sshHost)
-  git pull ssh://$email.sshHost/$projectName $patchSet.refName
-#end
-#if($email.includeDiff)
-
-$email.UnifiedDiff
-#end
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/RegisterNewEmail.soy b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/RegisterNewEmail.soy
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2b30ae626d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/RegisterNewEmail.soy
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2016 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+{namespace com.google.gerrit.server.mail.template}
+
+/**
+ * The .RegisterNewEmail template will determine the contents of the email
+ * related to registering new email accounts.
+ * @param email
+ */
+{template .RegisterNewEmail autoescape="strict" kind="text"}
+  Welcome to Gerrit Code Review at {$email.gerritHost}.{\n}
+
+  {\n}
+
+  To add a verified email address to your user account, please{\n}
+  click on the following link
+  {if $email.userNameEmail}
+    {sp}while signed in as {$email.userNameEmail}
+  {/if}:{\n}
+
+  {\n}
+
+  {$email.gerritUrl}#/VE/{$email.emailRegistrationToken}{\n}
+
+  {\n}
+
+  If you have received this mail in error, you do not need to take any{\n}
+  action to cancel the account.  The address will not be activated, and{\n}
+  you will not receive any further emails.{\n}
+
+  {\n}
+
+  If clicking the link above does not work, copy and paste the URL in a{\n}
+  new browser window instead.{\n}
+
+  {\n}
+
+  This is a send-only email address.  Replies to this message will not{\n}
+  be read or answered.{\n}
+{/template}
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/RegisterNewEmail.vm b/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/RegisterNewEmail.vm
deleted file mode 100644
index 7e095fb570..0000000000
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/resources/com/google/gerrit/server/mail/RegisterNewEmail.vm
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
-## Copyright (C) 2010 The Android Open Source Project
-##
-## Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-## you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-## You may obtain a copy of the License at
-##
-## http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-##
-## Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-## distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-## WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-## See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-## limitations under the License.
-##
-##
-## Template Type:
-## -------------
-## This is a velocity mail template, see: http://velocity.apache.org and the
-## gerrit-docs:config-mail.txt for more info on modifying gerrit mail templates.
-##
-## Template File Names and extensions:
-## ----------------------------------
-## Gerrit will use templates ending in ".vm" but will ignore templates ending
-## in ".vm.example".  If a .vm template does not exist, the default internal
-## gerrit template which is the same as the .vm.example will be used.  If you
-## want to override the default template, copy the .vm.example file to a .vm
-## file and edit it appropriately.
-##
-## This Template:
-## --------------
-## The RegisterNewEmail.vm template will determine the contents of the email
-## related to registering new email accounts.
-##
-Welcome to Gerrit Code Review at ${email.gerritHost}.
-
-To add a verified email address to your user account, please
-click on the following link#if($email.userNameEmail) while signed in as $email.userNameEmail#end:
-
-$email.gerritUrl#/VE/$email.emailRegistrationToken
-
-If you have received this mail in error, you do not need to take any
-action to cancel the account.  The address will not be activated, and
-you will not receive any further emails.
-
-If clicking the link above does not work, copy and paste the URL in a
-new browser window instead.
-
-This is a send-only email address.  Replies to this message will not
-be read or answered.