Summary
Porsche’s top leadership convened in Europe on Feb. 12 to make a final decision on whether to proceed with electric versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman, according to The Drive. Years of development delays and rising costs have pushed the EV program to a pivotal moment, with the outcome determining whether Porsche advances battery-powered successors or cancels them after the current gas models have already ended production.
Key developments
- The Feb. 12 meeting was described as the final call on the next-generation 718 EVs, per The Drive.
- Delays and higher-than-expected expenses are central to the review.
- The current gasoline 718 Boxster and Cayman have reportedly gone out of production, leaving no immediate conventional successor if the EVs do not proceed.
Leadership and strategy context
- The Drive reports a leadership change is a factor: Michael Leiters became CEO on Jan. 1, succeeding Oliver Blume, and is assessing the program’s delays and costs.
- Porsche initially planned the next 718 to be all electric, then later reconsidered bringing gasoline variants back as higher-end options, according to the outlet. No formal confirmation of that shift has been reported.
Technical and program challenges
- Weight target: Porsche aimed to keep the electric 718s under 4,000 pounds—a difficult benchmark for a street-legal EV requiring a sizable battery, safety systems, and performance hardware, The Drive reports.
- Driver engagement: Porsche developed simulated gear changes to evoke shifting without a traditional gearbox. The approach would conceptually mirror Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N and Porsche was reportedly impressed with Hyundai’s execution (per The Drive’s reporting/claims).
- The simulated shifting system is slated to debut on the Taycan later this year, according to The Drive.
What’s at stake
If the EV program is canceled, Porsche faces near-term uncertainty for its smallest sports cars, given the reported end of current gas 718 production and the lack of a confirmed plan to reintroduce gasoline versions. If it proceeds, the 718 EVs would extend Porsche’s EV lineup—currently including the Taycan and new electric Macan, with an electric Cayenne on the way—into two-seat sports cars closely tied to the brand’s identity.
Timeline and disclosure
The Drive characterizes the Feb. 12 meeting as decisive but does not specify its location in Europe, nor whether Porsche will immediately disclose the outcome. The outlet reports no public comment from Porsche on the review’s status or timing as of publication.
