Porsche plans to discontinue the Taycan, its first series-production electric vehicle, by the end of the decade. The German automaker has reportedly decided against moving production from its Stuttgart plant to its Leipzig facility as global demand for the model has fallen sharply.
The Stuttgart-to-Leipzig relocation that never happened
According to a report by German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche, Porsche weighed several options to save the Taycan, including shifting production to the Leipzig plant to leverage greater capacity. However,the company ultimately decided against the move, opting instead to wind down production at the Stuttgart facility over the next few years. This gradual phase-out has reportedly been agreed upon with the Porsche works council, though the deal still requires formal raatification.
The decision to keep the Taycan in Stuttgart until 2030 suggests a desire to avoid the immediate logistical and labor upheaval of a factory shift for a product with a shrinking trajectory. By choosing a slow exit rather than an immediate cull, Porsche is managing its workforce expectations while preparing the market for the model's eventual disappearance .
A 57 percent value drop and the struggle for EV demand
The Taycan's struggle is not merely one of sales volume, but of residual value. Data from Vin Assessment indicates that a Porsche Taycan typically loses approximately 57 percent of its asking price over six model years. For a luxury buyer paying an entry price of £88 ,400 in the UK, such aggressive depreciation is a significant deterrent that undermines the prestige of the brand.
This trend reflects a broader cooling of the luxury EV market, where early adopters have already bought in and the second-hand market is struggling to find a floor. While Porsche continues to offer variants like the Sports Turismo (starting at £89,400) and the Cross Turismo (£99,400), the allure of the 429bhp electric saloon has been eclipsed by the volatility of EV valuations.
Why the 911 will remain petrol and hybrid into the 2030s
The fate of the Taycan signals a pivot in Porsche's overarching strategy.. former chairman Oliver Blume once targeted a future where electric vehicles accounted for 80 percent of Porsche sales by 2030. However, the company has since scaled back these ambitions, ensuring that petrol-poered versions of the Cayenne, Panamera,and the iconic 911 remain in production well into the 2030s.
During a June annual general meeting, Porsche CEO Dr. michael Leiters explicitly stated that there will be no fully electric 911. Instead, the flagship model will rely on hybrid technology for the next decade. This shift suggests that Porsche has recognized a ceiling for full electrification among its core enthusiast base, who prioritize the mechanical soul of the internal combustion engine over the efficiency of a battery.
Michael Leiters' 'short term' timeline versus the 2030 deadline
There remains a notable tension between official corporate communication and insider reports. As WirtschaftsWoche reported, the plan is to axe the Taycan by 2030, yet CEO Michael Leiters told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung last month that the company was not planning to discontinue the model "in the short term."
This discrepancy leaves several questions unanswered. It is unclear whether the 2030 date is a hard deadline or a flexible target based on market recovery. Furthermore,it remains to be seen how the recently announced 2027 model-year update—which introduces AI integration, a new E-Shift system, and a standard 105kWh Performance Battery Plus—fits into a sunset strategy. Investing in high-tech updates for a car slated for discontinuation suggests either a desperate attempt to boost residuals or a strategic hedge in case demand rebounds.
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