It is true; Porsche AG has ditched diesel vehicles forever. CEO, Oliver Blume confirmed it in a recent press release, making Porsche the first German carmaker to drop diesel-fueled engines.
The End of an Era
For many years, governments favored diesel over petrol. It was believed to be better for the environment, but the VW “dieselgate” disaster has turned things upside down.
The scandal has pushed organizations around the world to run their own investigations. As it turns out, diesel engines release high volumes of nitrogen oxide (NOx), which is much more harmful than carbon dioxide (CO2).
Now, some countries are thinking of tightening their car emission laws. In Europe, the EU Commission is looking into VW, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz), and BMW for possible collusion on the diesel scandal.
Dieselgate
In 2015, Porsche’s parent company, Volkswagen rocked the auto world with one of the biggest industry scandals in decades.
The group admitted to installing “defeat devices” on 11 million models worldwide. The engines reduced their NOx emissions when they sensed they were being tested. On the road, the fumes reached as much as 40-times the acceptable pollution levels. They were clearly breaking the law.
“We’ve totally screwed up,” confessed US Chief, Michael Horn, in a public apology. On the same note, then VW CEO, Martin Winterkorn, acknowledged that the company had broken public trust.
Since the scandal broke out, VW has paid over €27 billion ($30 billion) in fines and damage control. It closed on a net loss of $1.8 billion in 2015.
More trouble hit the automaker earlier this year. The German motor transport authority (KBA) discovered similar software in certain Macan and Cayenne SUVs. As a result, Porsche was asked to recall around 60,000 vehicles in Europe.
“We have never developed and produced diesel engines ourselves. Still, Porsche’s image has suffered. The diesel crisis has caused us a lot of trouble,” Blume admitted to German newspaper.
No More Diesel for Porsche
After 10 years of selling diesel vehicles, Porsche has completely stopped offering them.
The company says the decision is not informed by the scandals, but rather by consumer trends. Demand for diesel is falling, while the interest in hybrid vehicles keeps rising. In 2017, diesel models made up only 12% of global Porsche sales.
“Porsche is not demonizing diesel,” says Oliver Blume in an official statement. “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,” he assures.
A Hybrid and Electric Future
With diesel out of the picture, the sports car brand will increase activity in hybrid and electric technology. It plans to spend €6 billion ($6.8 billion) on e-mobility by 2022.
2019 will mark a new era for the German giant. Porsche will release the Taycan, its first fully electric sports car. Powered by green energy and a CO2-neutral factory, the Taycan might be its most impressive car yet.
By 2025, half of all new Porsche vehicles will either be hybrid or electric drives. To assist shift, the VW group has joined forces with Ford, BMW and Daimler to construct the “highest-powered” vehicle charging network in Europe.
Together, the companies say, “By 2020 the customers should have access to thousands of high-powered charging points.”
A Porsche Will Always Drive Like a Porsche
In the words of CEO, Oliver Blume, “Porsche will be Porsche in future, like Porsche is today.” It will blend its rich heritage with future technologies to build new and exciting sports cars.
The German carmaker promises to maintain its identity as a performance brand. It will continue to offer the “purist, emotional and powerful” performance cars that its customers have always loved.