Porsche chief Oliver Blume has said that the company will focus on the development of hybrid and electrified technology, effectively confirming that it will no longer offer diesel engines of any of its new models.
In international markets, Porsche had discontinued its only two diesel models, the Macan S Diesel and Panamera 4S Diesel, due to a fall in customer demand and the introduction of stricter emissions tests. At the time, Porsche had said it that it will continue to make diesel cars.
The firm now says it will no longer offer diesel-engine cars in the future, noting they account for just 12 percent of worldwide Porsche sales in 2017.
Porsche India is expected to launch the third-gen Cayenne SUV, its best-selling model in our market, on October 17. Interestingly, even here, the German brand will not be bringing a diesel engine option.
“Porsche is not demonising diesel,” said Blume. “It is, and will remain, an important propulsion technology. We as a sports car manufacturer, however, for whom diesel has always played a secondary role, have come to the conclusion that we would like our future to be diesel-free. Naturally we will continue to look after our existing diesel customers with the professionalism they expect.”
Porsche is gearing up to introduce the Taycan electric sports car next year in international markets, and says that by 2025 “every second new Porsche vehicle could have an electric drive”, which means that propulsion will be carried out by a hybrid or all-electric powertrain.