AUTONEWS

Porsche reportedly delays electric 718 and large three-row SUV

Porsche once planned for electric vehicles to account for over 80 percent of its annual sales by the end of the decade, but that goal is now looking increasingly unrealistic.

As Motor1 reminds us, Porsche has confirmed its long-term commitment to internal combustion engines, announcing the launch of a new gasoline-powered Macan in a few years. In addition, the Panamera and Cayenne will retain internal combustion engines well into the 2030s.

According to a new report published by Automobilwoche, Porsche may have delayed the launch of several key electric vehicle projects. The electric 718 and a new three-row SUV have reportedly been delayed, not only due to weaker-than-expected demand for electric vehicles, but also due to the bankruptcy of battery supplier Northvolt. The delay is reportedly affecting the launch of the electric Boxster/Cayman duo, as well as the flagship SUV planned to sit above the Cayenne.

Automobilwoche points out that the 2027 launch of the electric 718 would be significantly later than the previously mentioned “mid-decade.” In the meantime, it’s been almost a year since Porsche stopped producing the gasoline-powered Boxster and Cayman in European markets due to new cybersecurity regulations. Limited-edition versions like the Cayman GT4 RS and Boxster RS ​​Spyder are exempt. Production of the current-generation 718 is set to end later this year, production chief Albrecht Reimold confirmed in an interview with Automobilwoche in July 2024. If the timeline holds, Porsche will be without the Boxster and Cayman in its portfolio for around two years.

As for the large SUV, Porsche first hinted at the project three years ago during a press conference. Codenamed “K1,” the new model will sit on the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) Sport, developed in-house. CEO Oliver Blum described the upcoming flagship SUV as offering “strong performance,” with “automated driving functions” and a “completely new experience” in the cabin.

But Automobilwoche is now reporting that the K1 won’t be launched until the end of the decade.

Motor1 says it’s likely one of the models Porsche originally envisioned as an all-electric vehicle, but may now be considering a hybrid or combustion engine configuration.

Meanwhile, Porsche recently scrapped its plans to increase battery production at its Cellforce subsidiary, citing “slower growth in electromobility.”

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