Cayman EV (and Boxster EV) may axed by new CEO Michael Leiters

[JayGT4]

I hope not!!

https://www.autonews.com/volkswagen/porsche/ane-porsche-cayman-boxster-evs-may-be-axed-0202/
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...cutting-electric-sports-cars-to-tackle-budget

Porsche is considering shelving an electric sports car line to cut costs that have ballooned due its overly ambitious EV bet, according to people familiar with the matter.

New CEO Michael Leiters may scrap the planned 718 line of Boxster and Cayman EVs because of development delays and rising expenses, said the people, who declined to be named discussing internal deliberations.

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[atebit]

Not surprised. Porsche officially sucks.

 

[SergeyIndy]

Those unnamed people told my dealer GM this last September. I reported on this forum that this is not happening with official line of it being delayed until 2030 which means in Porsche speak, will not be happening ever.

 

[Mr.Smith]

I hope not, but its a smart move to not send to the US if they do produce it. There is no reason anymore to have EVs here

 

[atebit]

I hope not, but its a smart move to not send to the US if they do produce it. There is no reason anymore to have EVs here

Huh?

 

[Mr.Smith]

Huh?

The only reason any OEM produced EVs was because of the regulatory environment. Between that being scrapped, the 25% tariffs, Porsche EV inventory sitting, why would Porsche send EVs to the US?

I only have EVs and have a reservation for R2, but business is business

 

[irrelevant]

Audi Concept C in my future then? I’ve zero interest in any ICE Porsche models.

 

[atebit]

If it’s anything like the Q4 I’m currently driving, it will not be a best-in-class EV by any means

 

[jk981]

Damn first the Model S and now this?

 

[babylou66]

Why can't the Taycan and 718 share the same platform in different lengths just like PPE does?

 

[chun]

Why can't the Taycan and 718 share the same platform in different lengths just like PPE does?

They don't want a skateboard design for the 718. The whole point was to have the batteries mid mounted, where the engine is in the ICE 718. Which led to many thermal and performance issues, being one of the reason given for the bankrupting of Northvolt, who were responsible for the battery design.

 

[babylou66]

With the six module to body design Cayenne EV is using I can imagine a future 718/Taycan system that is not skateboard; basiclly building off the footwell system used by Taycan. I can see a Taycan with 5 modules (no mudule in rear footwell) and a 718 with 4 modules (two rows of double stacked modules behind seat).

 

[daveo4EV]

I hope not!!

https://www.autonews.com/volkswagen/porsche/ane-porsche-cayman-boxster-evs-may-be-axed-0202/
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...cutting-electric-sports-cars-to-tackle-budget

Porsche is considering shelving an electric sports car line to cut costs that have ballooned due its overly ambitious EV bet, according to people familiar with the matter.

New CEO Michael Leiters may scrap the planned 718 line of Boxster and Cayman EVs because of development delays and rising expenses, said the people, who declined to be named discussing internal deliberations.

disappointing no doubt

but unsurprising

the EV 718/Cayman/Boxster has been just about to be released since 2020…and that was when Porsche liked EV's…

Porsche can't price their EV's to be 'competitive' because then the EV would undercut the ICE versions…

And Porsche's ICE prices are creeping into "too much money territory"

Porsche can't succeed in the EV business unless they tank their existing business…

“Our business model, which has served us well for many decades, no longer works in its current form,” Blume said.

what is that business model?

sell luxury premium sports cars with infinite trim levels and charge incremental money for each minor increase in performance…that model is "broken" when EV's democratize performance, performance no longer locked behind mechnical complexity…so there is no reason to "charge for it"…boom Porsche's business model disappears in a puff of logic…

Porsche had a technology/complexity moat against competition for Performance - in that competing with Porsche required competitors to take on the same mechanical complexity Porsche had mastered - and while they might choose to purse that - it was hard to see how they could be profitable doing it…and it would take a lot of effort for unclear outcome…

EV's have removed the "performance" moat…and Porsche is left holding it's ass in it's hands with no where to go…in the EV world. They have no "moat" in the EV world…

solution: dont' sell EV's and return to business you know - where performance is locked behind mechanical complexity that most companies are unwilling to engage in…

 

[Fish Fingers]

Let's be honest, if its being leaked that they are thinking about cancelling them, due to costs - and looking at the state of the business, its a done deal.

And yet the landscape could so easily swing back in favour for EV's.
In fact I am certain it will.

All it takes is say an oil shock event (in the Gulf) or maybe more environmentally friendly Govts (look at who the young vote for, not the older generations who will die out).

Sooner or later, it will turn more pro EV.
In Europe, I am seeing loads of new EV's on the road. The tide has already turned - except maybe stalled in the US.

It may be a big mistake by Porsche, but one they probably can no longer afford not to make in the short term.

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