REPORT: CEO says Porsche can sell 150,000 cars per year - it sold just 75,200 last year
Porsche is not a high volume automaker, and it probably never will be. However, Porsche management feels it can do better than its somewhat disappointing 75,200 sales it last year (ending July 2009), but the increase could be larger than most would reasonably expect. Porsche CEO Michael Macht told Reuters he believes Porsche could sell 150,000 vehicles per year, but the new chief executive doesn't expect sales to double on the backs of the German luxury sports car maker's current lineup.
There are currently five vehicles in the Porsche lineup, with the four-door Panamera being the newest and perhaps smallest volume vehicle of the the bunch -- initially. Getting to 150,000 units would mean Porsche would have to make some all-new models, and that sounds pretty good to us. One way Porsche could increase volume is to build the sub-Boxster roadster that has been rumored on several occasions over the years. The "entry level" Porsche could bump sales by a considerable amount, but still more vehicles could be on the way.
One vehicle that Porsche is working hard on still has some time before it could affect production totals, and that model won't contain a boxer engine or turbochargers. Macht says the company is working an electrically-powered Porsche, but the automaker won't release a battery-powered vehicle until it could recreate the sporty driving characteristics of Porsche's petrol-powered vehicles.
[Source: Reuters]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
mbslrm 8:30AM (9/21/2009)
Porsche, please don't sell out.
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Glock23 9:03AM (9/21/2009)
Too late for that. It's called "Cayenne".
Infra 10:57AM (9/21/2009)
They already sold out to VW, although not by choice.
Michael Macht is the VW approved CEO and you can count on him looking to reduce operating costs. I fear for the 911 GT2/3.
daleam 11:56AM (9/21/2009)
They should just keep doing what they're doing and do it well. There is no need for them to produce more, just produce good.
Wheatstraw 12:50PM (9/21/2009)
Cayenne funded some nice 911 variations so I wouldn't knock it. Porsche is a business and they need money too.
mbslrm 8:45PM (9/21/2009)
I understand that their a business, but doubling your sales takes drastic measures -- ones that might not work out too well for the enthusiast.
The Cayenne and the Panamera, at least in my books, are a hit. Sure, they aren't traditional, but Porsche didn't just slap on a Porsche badge to some SUV/sedan. They really are worthy of the Porsche badge. Flame away...
autObsessions 8:49AM (9/21/2009)
Is that a midget driving that Cayman??
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BickelRF 9:32AM (9/21/2009)
Ha I was just thinking the same thing
mk15 9:12AM (9/21/2009)
It's a Caymanera. In order to better serve the CUV demands, Porsche Engineers zoomed the Cayman blueprints by 150% and called it a day.
Seriously though, could very well be a midget. Reminds me of those "soccer moms" driving big SUVs and they barely see over the steering wheel.
vf34wrx 9:24AM (9/21/2009)
LOL, I was going to say the same thing.
catchmyshadow 9:07AM (9/21/2009)
150.000 no problem, they just need a 928 successor (on panamera platform) and the Mini-roadster (on VW bluesport concept pltf.) and the end of the fin.crisis.
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Clay Garland 10:37AM (9/21/2009)
They need something that can outperform a Z Car that costs half as much.
Mike 9:09AM (9/21/2009)
I know Porsche hasn't hit it out of the park on every car they've produced like the 914 and the 928. Lets see what they come up with. Perhaps if they resist a 942 they'll be on the right path.
I wonder if we'll see wide spread use of carbon fibber in the next generation cars from Porsche. A carbon fibber tub would make for an interesting starting point. Mclaren have reduced the time to manufacture the carbon fiber tub for their new car to 4 hrs using only one piece of carbon fibber fro maximum strength.
I love taking my 07 Boxster S to that track and would give it up for a 2500 lb. car that sounds like something out of Blade Runner. Batteries are the Achilles heal right now. My guess is the best LI battery pack would only give you about 10 laps at Road America.
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Affalterbach 2:18PM (9/21/2009)
Altough Im good with Porsche number designations, I'm not sure what the 942 was/will be.
Todd 9:11AM (9/21/2009)
"entry level Porsche" = $65,000.00+ in *this* economy
...um, yeah, sure. $1,800.00 a month car payment ( not including insurance ) is "mass market".
They need to stay "boutique", a lofty up-market.
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Infra 11:05AM (9/21/2009)
A Cayman S doesn't start that high (try $60,000).
An entry level could well start at around $35,000 and $40,000 for an 'S' model
I believe if they dropped $5,000 off the price of every Boxster and Cayman they'd sell a lot more. Price would be comparable to a loaded 3 series, C-class, or S4... but then, what would be the point if everyone had a Porsche?
fixitfixitstop 11:13AM (9/21/2009)
"A Cayman S doesn't start that high (try $60,000)."
With taxes, it's gonna be around $65,000. With a few options, that total can easily surpass $75,000.
hoyaCS08 3:02PM (9/21/2009)
Badly-kept secret: Caymans, Boxsters, and base 911s can be had for significantly below MSRP right now. Plus 1.9% financing. You can walk away with a decently-spec'd 2009 Cayman S for right around $60K flat.
The 911S, Turbos, and GT3s are holding up better, but Cayenne's are even cheaper relative to MSRP
Dane 9:23AM (9/21/2009)
what ever happened to quality over quantity? Stick to your roots Porsche... You are getting U.G.L.Y........
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RG 9:22AM (9/21/2009)
Did VW approve this press release?
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