Porsche is now partially pulling ashore when it comes to electric cars. On the other hand, the brand from Zuffenhausen is increasing the proportion of petrol models.
Porsche has adjusted its plans for electric cars and chosen to continue production of several petrol models. Despite previous announcements about an electrification rate of 80 percent of their sales in 2030, the car manufacturer has changed course.
Already this summer, the objective was downgraded, and now it is clear that models with combustion engines will remain part of the range for many years to come.
According to Automotive News, Porsche will continue to develop and produce gasoline engines, as there is still significant demand in several markets.
– There is a clear trend in the premium luxury segment towards cars with a combustion engine, so we will take this into account in our product development cycle, says CFO Lutz Meschke
The share of electric cars in Porsche's total sales has fallen significantly. Until September this year, electric cars made up 7.3 percent of total sales, down from 12 percent compared to the same period last year. The fall is mainly due to lower demand for the Taycan, which was Porsche's only electric car for a long time.
The Chinese market has been particularly challenging for Porsche, with sales of electric cars down 29 percent this year. Meschke elaborates that the luxury segment does not follow the general growth of the electric car market in China.
– There is strong growth in the electric car market in China, but not in the luxury segment.
He emphasizes that it is not just Porsche that is experiencing this trend. But that it applies to several European car brands.
At the same time as Porsche expands the brand's electric car programme, including the introduction of an electric version of the Macan, they continue to work on the development of petrol engines for models such as the Cayenne and Panamera.
Petrol versions of the Macan will also remain available in certain markets outside of Europe. However, the Macan has not disappeared from Europe because of the petrol engine. Read more about it here.
Porsche is also considering developing combustion engines and entire hybrid powertrains for actual electric cars, explains Meschke.
– We are currently considering the possibility of the originally planned electric cars also getting a version with hybrid drive or combustion engine. We are currently in the middle of making conceptual decisions. What is clear is that we want to keep the internal combustion engine for much longer.
Although electric car sales have fallen, Porsche expects the new Macan and an upgraded Taycan to contribute to a future increase.
