Porsche May Pause 718 Electric Sports Car Project to Curb Costs

According to Bloomberg, Porsche is considering scrapping the planned electric versions of its 718 Boxster and Cayman models, originally scheduled for launch in 2026, amid soaring costs driven by its aggressive electrification strategy. New CEO Michael Lietz has not yet made a final decision, but development delays, budget constraints, and declining sales in China have put the project at risk of being shelved. The combustion-engine 718 was discontinued in 2025 after selling 23,670 units in 2024. The company is also evaluating whether to introduce a plug-in hybrid variant, though differing chassis architectures would further delay the project. As a result, Porsche expects its operating profit in 2025 to decline by as much as €1.8 billion and has refocused its efforts on internal combustion and hybrid models.