Porsche could gradually end production of its Taycan electric car by 2030, according to a report published by German outlet WirtschaftsWoche, in a shift that contradicts a statement made by the company’s CEO, Michael Leiters, just one month ago, when he said Porsche was not planning to discontinue the model in the short term. The information remains unconfirmed, as the agreement on which the report is based has not yet been put in writing, and a Porsche spokesperson declined to comment on it.
The Taycan is Porsche’s first electric car, and it was first unveiled in 2019 as a four-door sports sedan. Since its launch, the company has expanded its range by introducing multiple versions, and the model has also achieved several performance records. However, Taycan sales gradually declined after what was described as a strong start.
Demand Declines as the Electric-Car Lineup Expands
The report partly links this decline to the arrival of new electric models in Porsche’s lineup. When the Taycan was the company’s only electric car, buyers interested in electric vehicles went directly to it. But after the launch of the electric Macan, whose sales the source describes as very strong, customers had another option within the same brand.
The source also points out that large SUVs are attracting growing interest, particularly among high-income buyers, putting a sports sedan such as the Taycan in a lower-demand segment compared with SUVs. Although Porsche introduced new versions and improved the car over the model years, the basic design remained close to the shape seen at launch.
Preliminary Agreement Not Yet Finalized in Writing
According to WirtschaftsWoche, Porsche’s works council agreed in principle to an agreement with management to end Taycan production by 2030. The newspaper reported that the company had considered other options, including moving production of the car to a different factory, before ultimately moving toward ending it.
However, the report does not represent an official announcement from Porsche. The agreement has not been turned into a written document, and the company spokesperson declined to comment. The source also notes that Porsche has changed its position in the past. Therefore, the current details remain a preliminary report rather than a publicly announced final decision.
Conflict with Earlier Plans for the Electric-Car Portfolio
The contradiction is more apparent because Leiters said last month that Porsche had invested heavily in the Taycan and wanted to monitor the development of demand for it, adding that the company was not planning to discontinue it in the short term. In the same interview, he said that the electric Porsche 718 had returned to the planning schedule, following earlier rumors that it had been canceled.
Porsche shares technology platforms with Audi, and both are subsidiaries of the Volkswagen Group. The Taycan uses a shared platform with the Audi e-tron GT, while the electric 718 will use a shared platform with the anticipated Audi TT. Audi was expected to continue with the TT project even during the period when rumors circulated about the cancellation of the 718, which may have been a factor in returning the project to Porsche’s plans.
The Taycan is scheduled to undergo major changes for the 2027 models, including the E-shift feature, designed to make the driving experience and sound more similar to cars with manual transmissions and internal-combustion engines. If the end of Taycan production is confirmed, the fate of the Audi e-tron GT will remain one of the points requiring clarification, given its connection to the same platform.