Porsche Reverses EV-Only Policy for the Taycan and Some Others

I love the looks of the Porsche Taycan, in fact, I almost bought one. Trouble is and for so many reasons, I just do not like EVs. 

To put it simply and to paraphrase Jeremy Clarkson, I just do not want to drive a washing machine.

Now with sales of the Taycan plummeting, Porsche announced that they are considering the introduction of internal combustion engines to a number of their range that has been designated as EV only, such as the Taycan. 

Overall, Porsche like so many other German Brands including their parent VW are seeing dwindling sales that could threaten their very survival. Sales for the year are 7% down but in China that are haemorrhaging where they are reporting a 29% fall in units shifted.

This is a major reversal of the company policy but is a direct result of the dwindling sales of all of their EV models and the stubbornness of their loyal customers to abandon the internal combustion engine.

Porsche Chief Financial Officer, Lutz Meschke said in a recent press conference, “We will develop new combustion-engined derivatives of our electric vehicles in order to give the right answer to customer demand,” he went on to say “A lot of customers in the premium and luxury segment are looking in the direction of combustion-engined cars, there’s a clear trend,”

The 718 Boxter and Cayman were set to launch as EV only very soon but even with the technical challenge of pivoting a vehicle designed to be all-electric to combustion power the company seems to think that it will be a worthwhile exercise. The Macan SUV will also be offered with a hybrid version.

It will not be easy to do and will take some time to make the modifications and thus we will not know when individual markets will have the new (ish) products launched. 

The first could be the planned seven-seater SUV, code named the K1 for now, which could well have a Hybrid in the range.

To me it does somewhat appear that the EV-craze is fizzling out and I for one am damn glad. Now is it too early to book one of the new Taycan gas guzzlers?