Porsche backflips to give electric cars petrol engines – r…
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The German car maker has reportedly watered down its electric car plans again by announcing it will add internal combustion engines to cars previously planned to be electric-only. Porsche is reportedly looking at fitting internal combustion engines to models previously designed to be battery electric-only as it makes further changes to its electric vehicle strategy. After winding back its target for electric cars earlier in 2024, website Carscoops[1] reports Porsche[2] will shift powertrain strategy based on customer trends, prompted by declining sales of its battery electric vehicles.
"We will develop new combustion-engined derivatives [of our electric vehicles] in order to give the right answer to customer demand," Carscoops reports Porsche Chief Financial Officer Lutz Meschke as saying during a media conference call. "A lot of customers in the premium and luxury segment are looking in the direction of combustion-engined cars, there's a clear trend," Mr Meschke added. Earlier in 2024, Porsche revised its previous target[3] for 80 per cent of its line-up to be battery-electric vehicles by 2030 - leaving 20 per cent for its iconic 911 sports car - after sales of battery-electric models stalled.
The car maker made no statements on which of its electric models - and when - will have internal-combustion engines added to their line-ups. It could see Porsche's first seven-seat SUV[4] - codenamed K1 internally - revert from battery-electric power to use an internal combustion engine with electric hybrid components[5] when it hits showrooms in 2027. Porsche sales globally were down 7 per cent year-on-year to the end of September 2024, with its sharpest fall in China - the world's largest electric car market - where it posted a 29 per cent drop over the previous year.
An update of its first electric vehicle - the Porsche Taycan[6] - failed to recapture the early sales success which saw it become the brand's best-selling vehicle in 2021. The car maker also launched a battery-electric Macan SUV[7] - due in Australia by the end of 2024 - and plans to introduce electric versions of its 718 Boxster/Cayman sports car twins in 2025. The last petrol-powered versions[8] of the Boxtser and Cayman were built in July 2024 - although they may no longer be the last.
Yet like other car makers including Porsche's sister brand Audi, Mercedes-Benz[9] and Volvo[10] who have revised previous electric vehicle targets, Porsche says it will capitalise on the more immediate popularity of hybrid-electric vehicles. It will introduce the first hybrid version of its 911 sports car[11] to Australia in 2025. "We will refresh our combustion engine cars, including the Panamera[12] and the Cayenne[13], and of course, we will continue to rely on plug-in hybrids," Meschke said.
It echoes the path of the world's largest car maker, Toyota[14], which has said it will follow a multi-powertrain strategy[15] - with a mix of internal combustion, hybrid, fuel-cell and battery-electric vehicles - to suit different customer needs in various countries.
Porsche has been opposed to the European Union's 2035 ban of internal-combustion[16] engine new vehicles and has worked on synthetic fuels in order for its classic models - which are part of a lucrative spare parts business - to continue to be driven.
The post Porsche backflips to give electric cars petrol engines - report[17] appeared first on Drive[18].
References
- ^ Carscoops (www.carscoops.com)
- ^ Porsche (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ revised its previous target (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ first seven-seat SUV (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ electric hybrid components (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ Porsche Taycan (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ battery-electric Macan SUV (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ last petrol-powered versions (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ Mercedes-Benz (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ Volvo (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ hybrid version of its 911 sports car (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ Panamera (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ Cayenne (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ Toyota (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ multi-powertrain strategy (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ 2035 ban of internal-combustion (www.motors-addict.com)
- ^ Porsche backflips to give electric cars petrol engines - report (www.drive.com.au)
- ^ Drive (www.drive.com.au)