Frankfurt (Germany) (AFP) – Struggling German sports car maker Porsche plans to end production of the Taycan, its flagship fully electric model, by 2030 after steadily dwindling sales, a report said Thursday. The manufacturer announced last year a major rollback of its electric vehicle (EV) plans due to weaker-than-expected demand, adding to challenges that range from falling sales in China to penalising US tariffs.
Launched in 2019, the Taycan was supposed to underscore the Stuttgart-based group’s embarkment on a major shift away from combustion engines. But sales have been declining, from nearly 41,000 in 2023 to just 16,000 last year, and only 6,000 in the first half of 2026. German business weekly WirtschaftsWoche reported that Porsche’s works council, which represents staff interests, had agreed in principle with management to end Taycan production. “The company has decided to phase it out by 2030,” the magazine said, citing company sources. Porsche did not respond to an AFP request for comment.
The Taycan is one of Porsche’s two fully electric models currently on sale, alongside the Macan Electric SUV launched in 2024. The entire German car industry, including the major manufacturers like VW and BMW as well as their suppliers, is in crisis as it battles weak demand in Europe, volatile US trade policy, tepid demand for e-vehicles, and fierce competition from Chinese rivals. Porsche’s operating profit plunged by more than 90 percent last year and it has announced a series of job cuts.
© 2024 AFP
