Porsche ditches diesel engine cars after VW emissions scandal
PORSCHE has announced that it will stop making diesel engined cars and instead focus on petrol, hybrid and electric cars.
Porsche will no longer make diesel engined cars.
The German car manufacturer is refocusing its efforts on petrol, hybrid and electric cars.
It follows the emissions scandal involving parent company Volkswagen which admitted cheating emissions tests for diesel cars.
Porsche’s chief executive has, however, said that the move by the company was not being made to ‘demonise’ diesel.
It is and will remain an important propulsion technology," Oliver Blume said.
"We as a sports car manufacturer, however, for whom diesel has always played a secondary role, have come to the conclusion that we would like our future to be diesel-free.
"Petrol engines are well suited for sporty driving."
Blume stated that the effects of the 2015 emissions scandal have affected the brand’s image, despite it not making the engines itself, as it used Audi constructed powertrains.
"Nevertheless, Porsche's image has suffered.
"The diesel crisis caused us a lot of trouble."
He also added that the company will continue to serve its existing diesel customers.
“Naturally we will continue to look after our existing diesel customers with the professionalism they expect.”
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Over the course of 2017 only 12 per cent of its cars sold worldwide were diesel.
Porsche is planning to invest six billion euros in electrified car technology by 2022.
It already markets a number of hybrid cars and it noted that 63 per cent of Panameras sold across Europe were hybrids.
The carmaker will also launch its first electric car in 2019.
Taycan, formerly Mission E, will look to rival vehicles such as the Tesla Model S.
In addition to focusing on electrification, the carmaker will also look to develop more efficient and powerful petrol powertrains.
“Our aim is to occupy the technological vanguard – we are intensifying our focus on the core of our brand while consistently aligning our company with the mobility of the future," said Blume.