After battery supplier bankruptcy and CEO change, future of electric 718 is uncertain and project may be shelved
Porsche’s entry-level electrification strategy could suffer a decisive setback. This is because the German automaker is considering suspending the development of the electric versions of the 718 Cayman and Boxster models. The route review coincides with the arrival of the company’s new CEO, who took charge on January 1, 2026 and would be willing to reevaluate projects with high costs and uncertain returns.
According to an investigation by Bloomberg, sources linked to the automaker say that the economic viability of the project is compromised. The staggered increase in production costs and successive delays in the Research & Development (R&D) schedule put the launch, initially scheduled for this year, on hold. It is worth remembering that production of the previous generation combustion of the 718 was ended in October, creating a vacuum in the portfolio.
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The problems in the project are not recent. By December 2024, internal reports already indicated that the brand’s engineering was facing significant technical difficulties. The situation worsened in May of the following year, when development was reportedly halted due to the bankruptcy of Northvolt, a strategic battery supplier, forcing Porsche to look for alternatives in the supply chain.
In the face of the impasse, the survival of thermal engines gains strength. In September, Porsche had already signaled that the new generation of the 718 could keep combustion versions positioned at the top of the range. Now, with the real risk of cancellation of electric vehicles, the brand is studying extending the offer of traditional or hybrid engines to avoid losing share in the compact sports car segment. Porsche did not officially comment on the revision of the project.
