Porsche Delays Key EV Launches Amid Engineering And Market Challenges

  • Porsche reportedly struggles to match the dynamics of gas-powered 718s with all-electric models.
  • The seven-seat K1 electric SUV may need redesigning to support combustion engine compatibility.
  • Sales declines of the Taycan and Macan challenge the brand’s push for electrification by 2030.

Porsche wants 80% of sales to come from electric vehicles by 2030, and while its ambition should be applauded, it’s allegedly facing challenges in electrifying its popular line-up. This may prompt an interim policy where it will continue selling its combustion-powered models for longer than initially planned.

One project facing particular difficulties is Porsche’s overhaul of the Cayman and Boxster, transforming the two iconic mid-engined sports cars into EVs. A German report says Porsche is having trouble matching the driving dynamics of the outgoing ICE models. It’s also facing an uphill battle perfecting the battery chemistry.

Read: Porsche Changes EV Plan, Will Give Electric Models ICE Powertrains Too

Automobilwoche reports Porsche has asked battery supplier Valmet Automotive for frequent changes but is unwilling to pay in full for them. These challenges may prompt the carmaker to further delay the launch of the upcoming electric Boxster and Cayman model family.

It’s not just the Boxster and Cayman that are posing problems. Porsche had planned to launch an all-electric Cayenne in 2026 but this project could be further delayed. Porsche has also spent several years working on a new seven-seat SUV to sit above the Cayenne, known as the K1, but the timeline for the new SUV could be altered, too.

The report states Porsche wants to see if the K1 – originally developed as a pure EV – can be modified to adopt a combustion engine. This may necessitate a switch from the VW Group’s Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) to the same underpinnings as the current Cayenne.

Porsche Delays Key EV Launches Amid Engineering And Market Challenges

Poor sales and increased competition

Slow sales have contributed to Porsche second-guessing its electric plans. European sales of the Taycan are down 52% this year to 7,548, and the all-electric Macan isn’t trading in the volumes it hoped for either, shifting just 6,377 units this year. Lackluster demand could force Porsche to move Taycan production from Zuffenhausen to its main plant in Leipzig.

Porsche sales in China are also down 29%, and it’s lost ground to local competitors who offer similar performance at cheaper prices and with better digital tech.

More: Porsche To Sell ICE Macan In The US “For The Foreseeable Future”

“Before, their brand power was undisputed, but now Chinese consumers are looking around and finding other options that exist,” Gartner analyst Pedro Pacheco told Auto News. “The unavoidable reality is that battery-electric vehicles achieve top performance in a much more cost-effective way. Walking away from EVs means walking away from China.”

“China sets the pace for the future of premium cars,” he added. “Brands that fail to excel in software and EV performance will not only lose market share in China but face similar issues in Europe and the U.S. over time.”

Porsche Delays Key EV Launches Amid Engineering And Market Challenges

The Auto World

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gearhead Nirvana: We Visit Porsche’s Atlanta Workshop Where Classics Get Reborn

Image
Maintaining any car is a duty that different owners approach in vastly different ways. For some, a few zip ties and a rattle can of spray paint is good enough. Far on the other end of the spectrum are owners like the ones who take their car to the Porsche Classic Center in Atlanta. During our trip there to see the new Macan EV in virtual reality , we had the opportunity to tour the Classic Center as it was deep in the midst of multiple repair and restoration projects.  To the owners of these cars and to the Porsche brand itself, what these mechanics, technicians, upholsterers, and painters are preserving is heritage. The center’s mantra “As good as new. But with even more character” is on display for anyone who visits the site. More: 2024 Porsche Macan EV Arrives From $79k, Turbo Is Faster Than A 911 GT3 Directly south of downtown Atlanta and appropriately located at 300 Porsche Ave, the Porsche Classic Center is now a separate building from the main Experience Center that o...
Read more

The New Honda Prelude Will Be A Global Model, But It Won’t Be A Toyota GR 86

Image
Last month, Honda rolled out the red carpet for the the hybrid Prelude Concept , heralding the comeback of a historic name in the motoring world. Now, this car has been given the green light as a global model, set to cater to both right- and left-hand drive markets. However, it might not quite rev up to be the full-throttle sports car many enthusiasts were anticipating Despite being labeled a concept by Honda, the car presented at the Japan Mobility Show (JMS) looked quite production-ready. And if we know anything about Honda, they have a knack for unveiling thinly-disguised production cars as concepts. Take the last two Civics, for example. The 10th-gen Civic Concept was more or less the Civic coupe of that generation with a more aggressive stance and altered bumpers, while the 11th-gen Civic Prototype was virtually the same sedan that made it to production. Read More: The Honda Prelude Is Coming Back As A Hybrid Sports Coupe advertisement scroll to continue Honda Pre...
Read more

As Good As New Porsche 918 Spyder With Just 43 Miles Could Fetch $2 Million

Image
This Porsche 918 has been kept in a climate-controlled storage facility ever since it was delivered. The car is one of just four Hong Kong-spec 918s in existence. Driving the hypercar is a 4.6-liter V8 hybrid powertrain with 887 hp. A 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder that has never been registered will be available at a Hong Kong auction running from April 2-5 and is expected to sell for between $1.5 million and $2 million. The 918 Spyder launched as one of the ‘hypercar holy trinity’ alongside the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1. While there are many low-mileage examples out there, few are thought to have been driven less than this one. Over the past decade, it has been driven less than 70 km (43 miles) and has been owned by a single person in Hong Kong. It has also never been registered for road use. The listing doesn’t specify how the car has racked up 70 km without being registered. Read: This Porsche 918 Is One Of Just 2 With A Gulf Oil Livery Nevertheless, this car i...
Read more