Porsche plans to discontinue electric Taycan by 2030 as sales collapse from 41,000 to 6,000 units

Sales collapse forces phase-out decision

Porsche plans to discontinue production of its fully electric Taycan model by 2030 at the latest, the German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche reported on 13 August 2026, citing internal sources. The magazine said a preliminary agreement exists with the works council, though it has not yet been put in writing. Launched in 2019 as Porsche's first electric vehicle and the showcase of the brand's electrification ambitions, the Taycan has suffered a steep decline in demand. Deliveries fell from nearly 41,000 units in 2023 to about 16,000 last year, and only just over 6,000 vehicles were sold in the first half of 2026. Production at the Stuttgart main plant has been repeatedly interrupted in recent months due to weak orders.

Leipzig transfer and quick stop both rejected

According to WirtschaftsWoche, Porsche initially considered relocating Taycan production from its underutilised Stuttgart main plant to the factory in Leipzig. A second option, an immediate halt to the model, was also examined. The company ultimately chose a gradual phase-out, with assembly remaining in Stuttgart until the end of production. The Stuttgart plant's Taycan line has been significantly underutilised, the magazine noted. Porsche did not respond to immediate requests for confirmation from AFP and other outlets.

CEO hedged on the model's future weeks earlier

Porsche CEO Michael Leiters struck a cautious tone in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in late July, stopping short of confirming the model's long-term future.

We do not plan to discontinue the Taycan in the short term. We have invested a lot in this model and want to wait and see how demand develops.

Leiters' remarks left open the possibility of a longer-term decision, which WirtschaftsWoche's reporting now appears to confirm.

Broader strategic reversal on electrification

The Taycan's decline fits into a wider strategic pivot at Porsche. In 2025 the Stuttgart carmaker decided to prolong the life of its combustion and plug-in hybrid engines, responding to slower-than-expected EV adoption in Europe and the United States. At the time of its 2022 IPO, Porsche had set a target of 80% fully electric sales by 2030, a goal the current course correction moves further out of reach. The Taycan was joined by a second electric model, the Macan SUV, in 2024, though the Macan is also expected to be offered with a combustion engine in the future.

Profit pressure and Chinese market headwinds

Porsche's operating profit collapsed by more than 90% last year, compounding the pressure to reassess its electric ambitions. The maker of the 911 also faces difficult conditions in China, where local manufacturers exert intense price pressure in the luxury segment, particularly for electric vehicles. Like other European automotive groups, including its parent company Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, Porsche is reallocating investments to protect profitability. The company has not publicly commented on the reported 2030 production end date.