Porsche's iconic 911 to be sole survivor of automaker's combustion models

Porsche has a plan to gradually electrify its car lineup so that electric vehicles make up 80 per cent of sales by 2030, and it aims to make its iconic 911 the only internal-combustion engine model left standing, a top executive said.

The German luxury automaker’s plans have been closely watched, including by environmentalists, because of its investment in e-fuels and push for the EU to allow sales of such vehicles after 2035.

Porsche, which had not previously outlined plans to ultimately have only one combustion-engine model, is seen as closely associated with e-fuels because of an investment in Chilean energy company HIF Global.

The automaker will electrify its compact SUV Macan, followed by the 718 sports car and then the best-selling Cayenne, Porsche e-fuels team leader Karl Dums said. The 911, accounting for 13 per cent of sales in 2022, is the exception.

“Our strategy in the first place is switching to electric mobility and ... we will produce the 911 as long as possible with a combustion engine,” Dums said.

Porsche’s EV plans and e-fuels investment are separate, he said.

E-fuel is made from captured carbon dioxide and renewably produced hydrogen — when it burns it re-emits CO2, which proponents say makes it carbon-neutral.

HIF Global’s e-fuel is more aimed at the aviation industry and heavy vehicles, as passenger cars will almost all go electric, Dums added.

Automotive and business experts said e-fuels will be used only in niche, high-end models. Major automakers will likely avoid new e-fuel models after 2035, having already committed $1.2 trillion to electrification.

By comparison, e-fuel startups – focused mostly on aviation fuel – have attracted less than $1 billion in investment, according to Pitchbook.

BAC’s customers show no interest in EVs, Chairman Mike Flewitt said.