Porsche delays key EV launch for engineering, market reasons

Porsche reportedly having trouble making electric mid-engine models as dynamic as ICE models

Porsche wants 80% of its sales to be electric vehicles by 2030, and while its ambition is commendable, the company is said to be facing challenges in electrifying its popular product line. That could prompt a temporary policy that would see the company continue selling its combustion engine models for longer than initially planned.

One project that has faced particular difficulties is Porsche’s revamp of the Cayman and Boxster, two iconic mid-engine sports cars, into electric vehicles. A German report claims that Porsche is having trouble with the driving dynamics of the soon-to-be-discontinued ICE model. It also faces an uphill battle to perfect battery chemistry.

Read: Porsche changes electric car plan, will also provide ICE power system for electric models

Automobilwoche reports that Porsche has asked battery supplier Valmet Automotive to make frequent replacements but is unwilling to pay the full cost. The challenges could prompt the automaker to further delay the launch of its upcoming electric Boxster and Cayman model ranges.

It’s not just the Boxster and Cayman that’s causing problems. Porsche originally planned to launch an all-electric Cayenne in 2026, but the project may be delayed further. Porsche has also spent several years developing a new seven-passenger SUV to sit above the Cayenne, the K1, but the timeline for the new SUV could also change.

The report states that Porsche wants to know whether the K1, which was originally developed as a pure electric car, can be converted to use an internal combustion engine. This may require switching from Volkswagen Group’s Scalable System Platform (SSP) to the same underpinnings as the current Cayenne.

Poor sales and increased competition

Slow sales have led Porsche to second-guess its electric plans. Sales of the Taycan in Europe fell 52% this year to 7,548 units, while sales of the all-electric Macan also fell short of expectations, with only 6,377 units sold this year. Sluggish demand may force Porsche to move Taycan production from Zuffenhausen to its main plant in Leipzig.

Porsche’s sales in China also fell 29% and it lost out to local rivals that offer similar performance at a cheaper price and have better digital technology.

More: Porsche to sell ICE Macan in U.S. ‘for the foreseeable future’

“Before, the power of their brand was undisputed, but now Chinese consumers are looking around for other options that are available,” Gartner analyst Pedro Pacheco told Automotive News. “That’s not possible. The reality to avoid is that pure electric vehicles achieve optimal performance in a more cost-effective way, and moving away from electric vehicles means moving away from China.”

“China leads the future of premium cars,” he added. “Brands that underperform in terms of software and EV performance will not only lose market share in China, but will also face similar problems in Europe and the United States over time.”