The head of Porsche, Oliver Blume, has confirmed in an interview that the electrification process of the German brand is progressing much faster than expected. Despite the crisis that hit the automotive sector in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, the company delivered 20,000 units of its first electric car, the Taycan.
Its second model of this type will be the Taycan Cross Turismo, a derivative of the crossover Taycan presented this year. The combination of both bodies should boost Taycan sales to 30,000 units annually. After these models, the arrival of the second generation of the Macan is expected, which will be sold exclusively with 100% electric engines.
However, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that Porsche currently sells plug-in hybrid versions of the Cayenne and Panamera, which has allowed the firm to achieve the milestone that a third of its sales in Europe last year corresponded to plug-in vehicles. This percentage will increase dramatically in the short term, as its entire range will be electrified rapidly.
“We are progressing faster than planned. In 2025 around 50% [of our sales worldwide will be electrified vehicles, by the end of the decade, we are forecasting more than 80%,” Blume estimates. Even the mythical 911 will win a plug-in hybrid version in a couple of years, although for the moment, the brand does not consider launching an electric variant of its flagship model, which will happen with the rest of its brothers.
The sporty 718 (Boxster/Cayman) will become a 100% electric model in the medium term, although its development is still at a very early stage. The fourth-generation Cayenne will also be electric, sitting on the PPE platform that the new Macan will debut. Also, the Artemis division of the Volkswagen Group is developing a luxury electric for Porsche under the “Landjet” project, which is likely to result in the replacement for the Panamera.
Therefore, virtually the entire Porsche range (Macan, Cayenne, Taycan, Panamera, Boxster, Cayman…) will soon be 100% electric except the 911. Blume is also open to developing an electric hypercar with Rimac, the Croatian firm of the that Porsche owns a 15.5% stake. This project could result in the heir to the legendary 595/Carrera GT/918 Spyder saga. Besides, Porsche and Rimac will also collaborate through the French brand Bugatti.