Porsche Admits Eliminating The Gas Macan Was A Mistake
In a rare moment of corporate candor, the former head of Porsche has publicly acknowledged that the company made a significant strategic error regarding its best-selling SUV. Oliver Blume, who served as CEO until early 2026, admitted in a recent interview that transitioning the Macan to an electric-only platform was the wrong decision. The executive explained that the automaker misjudged the speed at which the global market would embrace battery-powered vehicles. This realization comes after sales data indicated a cooling interest in electric luxury cars across several key regions.
The original strategy was built on projections that assumed a much faster adoption of electric mobility than what actually occurred. Blume told the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that the company relied on data available at the time which suggested an aggressive shift was necessary. He noted that they would likely make the same call again if presented with that specific information in the past. However, the reality of the current automotive landscape has proven to be quite different from those initial forecasts. Customer demand for combustion engines has remained stubbornly high while enthusiasm for pure electric models has softened.
This strategic misstep has left a noticeable gap in the Porsche lineup as the internal combustion Macan faces discontinuation in many markets. The gas-powered version was forced out of the European Union due to new cybersecurity regulations that the older platform could not meet. This created a situation where the brand had no internal combustion offering in its most popular segment. Dealers and customers have expressed frustration over the lack of a petrol alternative to the new electric model. The sales dip that followed the transition highlighted the risks of abandoning traditional engines too quickly.
Porsche is now moving swiftly to correct this course under the leadership of its new CEO Michael Leiters. The company has confirmed it is developing a new combustion-engine SUV to sit alongside the electric Macan. Industry insiders suggest this new vehicle will likely share components with the Audi Q5 and use the Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Combustion architecture. This new project aims to recapture the buyers who are not yet ready to switch to an electric vehicle. The goal is to restore the balance in their portfolio by offering both powertrain options for the foreseeable future.
Development for this successor is reportedly being fast-tracked to reach showrooms as soon as possible. The usual five-year development cycle is being compressed to ensure the brand does not lose further market share to competitors. Executives have emphasized that future product planning will maintain a flexible approach to powertrains rather than committing exclusively to batteries. This pivot signals a broader industry trend where automakers are reevaluating their aggressive electrification targets.
Tell us if you think Porsche should revive the original gas Macan or focus entirely on this new successor in the comments.
