We reported a year ago that Porsche was thinking about giving diesel the axe, and now it's finally happening. In a statement, the automaker announced it will no longer offer diesel vehicles, shifting its focus to electrified cars.
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Porsche cites a change in consumer demand. Diesels accounted for 12 percent of its global sales last year, the automaker points out. That sounds like a lot of vehicles Porsche is willing to give up, but it's counting on hybrids to pick up the slack. A whopping 63 percent of Panamera models sold in Europe are hybrids, signaling potential for future growth.
Porsche hasn't offered a diesel vehicle globally since February, and it hasn't sold any in the U.S. since the dieselgate scandal erupted in 2015. Three years ago, Volkswagen Group admitted to using cheat devices on millions of vehicles worldwide, including Cayenne diesels, in an effort to evade emissions control tests.
But no mention of that in this week's press release. "Porsche is not demonizing diesel," CEO Oliver Blume said in the statement. "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." He added that Porsche will continue to take care of its existing diesel customers.
Porsche is ramping up its hybrid offensive next year with the Taycan, formerly known as the Mission E. Not long after that, expect a Cross Turismo variant. By 2025, every other new Porsche vehicle sold could be electrified. And while diesels are going away, Porsche says it's still committed to the internal combustion engine.
Source: Porsche
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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