Porsche ups electric vehicle target, confirms 911 hybrid and Apple talks
Porsche (POAHY) revealed strong 2021 results, but what has analysts and investors interested is the German automaker’s deeper pivot into electric vehicles (EVs).
Porsche reported new records in deliveries, revenue and operating profit. Globally, Porsche delivered 301,915 vehicles, topping the 300,000 mark for the first time in the company's history. Revenue last year hit 33.1 billion euros ($36.7 billion) and operating profit jumped 27% to 5.3 billion euros ($5.9 billion).
Porsche revealed that last year nearly 40% vehicles delivered in Europe were already at least partly electric, and it wants to expand on that globally. "In 2025, half of all new Porsche sales are expected to come from the sale of electric vehicles – i.e. all-electric or plug-in hybrid," Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said in a statement. "In 2030, the share of all new vehicles with an all-electric drive should be more than 80 percent."
Porsche’s Taycan EV sales more than doubled to 41,296, even topping sales of the iconic 911 sports car, which also hit a new sales record of 38,464 cars sold.
Porsche CEO Oliver Blume confirmed the Taycan’s success will lead to electrification of the sports car business too. "The Taycan is 100 percent a Porsche and inspires all kinds of people — existing and new customers, experts and the trade media,” he said. “We are stepping up our electric offensive with another model: By the middle of the decade, we want to offer our mid-engine 718 sports car exclusively in an all-electric form." This 718 EV sports car would be most likely based on the Mission R race car EV concept shown late last year.
Not only that, the iconic 911 sports car will also be electrified, though only partially with a hybrid powertrain. Porsche didn't release the timing of the hybrid 911 but said in an emailed statement that it won't be a plug-in hybrid and model the powertrain used by the 919 Hybrid race car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times.
IPO and Apple talks confirmed
Porsche all but confirmed one of the worst kept secrets in the industry, an upcoming IPO. "Strategically, operationally and financially, Porsche is in an excellent position. We are therefore looking to the future with confidence – and welcome the consideration of an IPO of Porsche AG,” Blume said in a statement.
In addition, during the news conference with media, Blume mentioned that the automaker was talking to Apple about working together. In a statement to Yahoo Finance, Porsche said Blume spoke generally about working with Apple in the past – for example, integrating Apple CarPlay, and that Porsche had meetings in California with Apple and will continue to talk, but that it is “too early for any specifics.”
The big question, of course, is what these special projects could be between Apple and Porsche — the long rumored and discussed Apple EV car, powered by Porsche mechanicals? Or is an Apple OS takeover of the Porsche infotainment system more likely? Or, it could be something tamer, for example a fully integrated experience of CarPlay, or full Apple user interface in the cabin.
No doubt investors and Wall Street analysts will be keenly watching this partnership in the future.
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Pras Subramanian is the senior autos reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.
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