According to Bloomberg, citing insiders, Porsche’s new CEO Michael Leiters is considering terminating the development of the electric versions of the 718 Cayman and Boxster. The pure electric sports car, originally planned to be launched within the year, may be scrapped due to dual pressures of cost and schedule.
Leiters officially took over as Porsche CEO on January 1, 2026, and immediately conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the company’s electrification projects, with the electric 718 becoming the primary focus. The project has been continuously plagued by soaring development costs and severe delays, becoming a “burden” in Porsche’s electrification transformation.
According to previous plans, Porsche ceased production of the previous generation fuel-powered 718 Cayman and Boxster in October 2025, positioning the electric version as the successor to the series, with a planned official launch in the second half of 2026.
However, as early as 2024, the project had already revealed multiple risks: in May of that year, development of the electric 718 was forced to pause due to the bankruptcy of battery supplier Northvolt; in December, Porsche internal engineers disclosed that the model’s development was “seriously behind schedule,” with related technical challenges yet to be overcome.
Although Porsche confirmed in September 2025 that the next-generation 718 will retain an internal combustion engine version and position it as the high-end series of the product line, with a higher priority than the electric version, the continued investment in electrification projects has still become a heavy burden for the company.
Currently, Porsche is facing multiple operational pressures: a significant decline in sales in its core market China, new tariff policies in the US market further squeezing profit margins, combined with global economic uncertainties. The high-investment, low-return electric sports car project has lost its rationale for continued advancement.
Industry analysis points out that Porsche’s previously aggressive electrification strategy has shown a clear shift. Under the pressure of performance and investor demands, the new CEO’s decision to halt the electric 718 aligns with the logic of cost control and prioritizing profitability. Even if the project is abandoned, Porsche can still maintain product competitiveness through its lineup of fuel-powered and hybrid sports cars and SUVs. The termination of the electric 718 is also seen as a key measure for Laitis to “stop the bleeding and revitalize.”
However, as of now, Porsche has not yet issued an official statement regarding the final decision on the electric 718 project.
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