Porsche has acknowledged a misstep in its electrification strategy, with its former chief executive saying the decision to make the next-generation Macan an electric-only model underestimated changes in market conditions and customer demand.
Oliver Blume, who stepped down as Porsche’s CEO at the start of 2026, said the company was wrong to phase out the combustion-engine Macan in favour of a fully electric successor. Speaking to German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Blume reflected on Porsche’s 2019 decision to end production of the petrol-powered Macan and transition the compact SUV to an all-electric format.
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The electric Macan was launched in early 2024 as part of Porsche’s broader push toward electrification. While the model retained the brand’s performance credentials, demand for high-priced luxury electric vehicles has softened in several markets, and regulatory and infrastructure challenges have complicated adoption.
“Based on the data at the time, we would have made the same decision,” Blume said, adding that market conditions have since changed. He said Porsche is responding by reintroducing combustion engines and hybrid powertrains into parts of its lineup.
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Porsche now plans to launch a new compact crossover with combustion or hybrid power, positioned below the Cayenne but separate from the Macan EV. The model is expected to arrive by 2028 and will not carry the Macan name. It is likely to be based on Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Combustion architecture, which also underpins vehicles such as the Audi Q5. Blume described the upcoming model as clearly aligned with Porsche’s traditional identity while remaining distinct from its electric offerings.
The Macan is not the only model affected by the strategy adjustment. Porsche has also confirmed that future versions of its 718 sports cars, which were previously expected to transition to electric-only drivetrains, will continue to be offered with combustion engines and hybrid options.
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Porsche’s shift mirrors a broader reassessment underway across the automotive industry, as several manufacturers revisit earlier assumptions about the pace of electric vehicle adoption. The move suggests that even premium brands with strong EV credentials are seeking greater flexibility in their powertrain strategies as they balance regulatory pressure, profitability and consumer demand.
