Urvaksh Karkaria has the latest on the Taycan’s American launch:

The coronavirus pandemic has complicated Porsche’s rollout of a “milestone” model in the U.S.

Automotive News

Who could have seen this coming? I’m shocked. If it hadn’t been for that meddling virus, everyone would be driving a Taycan by now! Gosh darnit!!!

Deliveries here of Porsche’s first battery-electric vehicle, the Taycan, ramped up early this year, and demand has been brisk in the U.S. and globally.

Automotive News

Brisk? Not fast, just brisk? What does brisk mean?

Porsche reported about 350 Taycan sales in the U.S. from December through March. Global demand for the Taycan has outstripped Porsche’s expectations, forcing it to reportedly double annual capacity to 40,000.

Automotive News

Ah, 350 units a quarter. I guess that is “brisk” for a $200,000 car.

There’s no doubt about it –– the Porsche Taycan is the coolest, sexiest EV that isn’t a Tesla. Some would argue its the sexiest EV period. But at 20,000 – 40,000 units a year its not really trying to change the world. I would love to see Porsche producing hundreds of thousands of these as battery costs come down. Porsche has never exactly been a mass market brand, but attainable performance electric options from Porsche would definitely accelerate the transition to sustainable transport.

“This is a new era for Porsche,” Zellmer said. “This is a milestone that is only comparable to us coming from two-door sports cars and selling an SUV in 2002.”

Despite the anemic adoption of electric vehicles in the U.S., Zellmer is confident there is a market for luxury performance EVs.

Automotive News

I agree completely. Good luck to Porsche on the launch of the EV and getting their EV efforts off the ground relatively early in the game. The road may seem rocky now, but I bet you these investments will pay off big time in the future.

Let’s check back on our friends in Stuggart in ten years and see how they’re doing. Depending on whether they let their EV efforts slip today, they could be either dead or leading the industry.

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