This archive report was first published on 20 November 2019.
As the world shifts towards electric vehicles, Porsche is gearing up to take on market leader Tesla in the US. By 2025, the German manufacturer aims to produce more than half of its cars as electric, with a focus on plug-in hybrid technology and fully battery-powered vehicles.
"The future is electric," said Klaus Zellmer, Porsche's North American chief, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. "By 2025, we will have crossed a tipping point, actually building more than 50 percent of our annual volume with either plug-in hybrid technology or fully battery."
However, Zellmer noted that the combustion engine is not dead, pointing to Porsche's popular 911 sports cars. The brand's first 100 percent electric sports car, the Taycan, was unveiled at Frankfurt's International Auto Show in September and can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than three seconds.
Porsche is also planning to sell a fully electric version of its SUV, the Macan, from 2021, which will compete directly against Tesla's Y model. "The electric Macan will compete in many different segments -- it's going to draw many people from different segments" just as Tesla did when it entered the market, Zellmer said.
Despite the growth of electric cars in China, Porsche's biggest single market, the brand is facing increasing competition from Tesla. Zellmer noted that the lack of access to charging facilities in mega-cities is a major challenge in the adoption of electric cars in China.
