Porsche Taikan to Relocate Production Facilities? Porsche Faces Review of Electric Vehicle Strategy
Release Date: 2024.12.19
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Porsche Faces Sluggish Sales
Porsche is facing a sales slump, with global sales from January to September down 71 TP3T y-o-y, with a drop of 291 TP3T in the particularly important Chinese market, according to the company. While domestic sales in Germany increased by 81 TP3T, the North American market also saw a decline of 51 TP3T, which apparently did not compensate for the overall situation.
The momentum of China's BYD and other emerging EVs and Tesla can no longer be stopped, and this is compounded by the worsening economic situation in China.
The root of this problem is believed to lie in Porsche's model plan. A few years ago, Porsche had set an ambitious goal of having 801 TP3T of new car sales be pure electric by 2030. However,Current management has softened this goal.He said.
Porsche forced to rethink electric vehicle strategy
Porsche's electric vehicle strategy does not appear to be progressing as originally planned.
The delay in electrification of the Macan, an important volume model, is partly to blame. On the other hand, the company is no longer investing in the development of its existing internal combustion engine platform. As a result, the EU's new cybersecurity directive makes it impossible to sell some internal combustion engine models, such as the 718, without retrofitting.
According to a report in the German automotive magazine Automobilwoche, Porsche is making new plans in a number of areas, including development and production. Of particular interest is a move concerning a production site for the Taikan.
Taikan production considering relocation to Leipzig
Despite a facelift earlier this year, sales of the Taikan have dropped significantly, and the future of this electric saloon isThere are plans to produce it in Leipzig.This is a good thing. However, according to this article, no decision has been made yet. Porsche has declined to comment on the matter.
The production of the Taikan was integrated into the Zuffenhausen plant as a "symbolic project for electric mobility" at great expense. As part of the project, an extremely long bridge was built to transport car bodies across the entire plant and across the road. The employees even gave up part of their salaries to finance the new facility.
However, they are now not renewing contracts for temporary workers due to lack of demand. There is talk of up to 1,000 contracts expiring.
Porsche Forced to Rethink Electric Vehicle Strategy
Lutz Meschke, Porsche's CFO and vice chairman of the executive board, said he supports the approach of building customized vehicles at the Taikan plant. Currently, he said, Porsche can only produce about 500 highly customized vehicles, but customers are paying a hefty price, especially for the iconic 911.
It appears that the current plan needs to be reviewed urgently, not only in production, but also in development. For example,Electric version of Cayenne SUV scheduled for 2026 may be delayedLike the Macan, the electric Cayenne is said to be based on the PPE platform.
Meanwhile, there is talk of completely revamping the internal combustion engine platform. So far, only modest improvements have been planned, but since the Audi Q7 and VW Touareg also use the same platform (all three models are produced in Bratislava), it is likely that Porsche cannot make the decision alone.
The product will be produced in Leipzig starting in 2027.Even the electric flagship K1 (a 7-seat electric SUV based on the group's SSP platform) is being considered for a "multi-year delay"He said. In addition, the previously unplannedPossibility of internal combustion engine version also surfaced.He says he is doing so.
Porsche has been forced to rethink its electric vehicle strategy. We await Porsche's decision on how to strike a balance between the transition to electric vehicles and the continuation of existing models.
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