Porsche postpones electric Boxster and Cayman launch once again

21 May 2025

Porsche is finding that the road to an all-electric future is paved with more than a few bumps. The highly anticipated battery-powered versions of its popular 718 Boxster and Cayman models have hit another snag. We were supposed to see them in 2026, but Porsche has now indicated that these electric sports cars won't arrive until at least 2027 - that's the second time the company has pushed back their release.

A major problem for Porsche is its battery supply. The company relied on Northvolt, a Swedish battery producer, to make special high-performance battery cells. Unfortunately, Northvolt ran into financial trouble and declared bankruptcy. This left Porsche scrambling, as these particular batteries were crucial for the electric 718 designs (Taycan gets its batteries from LG Chem in South Korea).

The delay isn't just about batteries, though. Porsche realized that not as many people are rushing to buy EVs as initially predicted. This slower-than-expected interest from car buyers has also played a part in the decision to postpone the electric 718 Boxster and Cayman. The company had ambitious plans to make 80% of all the cars it sells worldwide electric by the year 2030. However, since the shift to battery electric cars is lagging, Porsche now finds itself in a tricky spot. It has to keep developing new gasoline-powered models while also dealing with the expensive delays in getting its new EVs ready. Add to this lackluster sales in China and uncertainty about the US market, and we have a perfect storm.

The difficulties in the EV transition have had real-world consequences. Earlier this year, Porsche had to cut 1,900 jobs in research and manufacturing at its main plants in Germany. This was a direct result of the slower-than-hoped-for progress in ramping up its electric vehicle production. Porsche even tried to get into the battery-making game itself by forming a company called the Cellforce Group back in June 2021. The idea was for Cellforce to develop and produce its own battery cells, but fierce competition from established battery makers in China made it difficult for Cellforce to start large-scale production.

Adding another layer to Porsche's trouble, the company had to stop selling its gasoline-powered 718 Boxster and Cayman models in European markets in mid-2024. This was because of new cybersecurity regulations that came into effect on July 1, 2024. To meet these new rules, which aim to protect cars from hacking, Porsche would have needed re-engineering of the existing 718 models.

All these struggles with EV development, falling sales in the important Chinese market, and potential issues with export tariffs in the US are creating a pressure-cooker environment for Porsche's CEO, Oliver Blume. Mr. Blume also holds the top job at Volkswagen, Porsche's parent company. This dual role has led some Volkswagen shareholders to suggest he should pick one company to focus on, a situation not much different from the scrutiny Tesla's Elon Musk has faced recently.

The repeated delay of the electric 718 models is a big deal when considering Porsche's position in the US market. The company does not build any cars in the United States and recently confirmed it has no plans to open an American factory, citing its relatively low sales figures there. Porsche's finance chief, Jochen Breckner, has stated that while prices haven't gone up yet, they will if US tariffs on imported cars stay in place.

Via