Skip to main content

Porsche brings diesel car production to a screeching halt

porsche cayenne s review front angle
Porsche

Porsche has become the first German automobile brand to abandon diesel fuels. In a press release,  the company indicated that it wanted to focus more of its efforts on hybrid and electric cars.

Oliver Blume, Porsche’s CEO, said that diesel remained an important technology, but said that it was largely secondary in the realm of sports cars, and noted that demand for diesel vehicles had been falling for some time.

“Porsche is not demonizing diesel. It is, and will remain, an important propulsion technology,” Blume said. “We as a sports car manufacturer, however, for whom diesel has always played a secondary role, have come to the conclusion that we would like our future to be diesel-free. Naturally we will continue to look after our existing diesel customers with the professionalism they expect.”

While Porsche might not have anything against diesel cars, it is clear that sales figures have been falling for some time. A report from Automotive News Europe notes that diesel sales have fallen in recent years. In Porsche’s home country of Germany, diesel sales fell to a decade-low of 38 percent. Traditional gasoline-powered cars make up about 58 percent of the market. Alternative options, such as hybrids or electric cars, are doubling or tripling in volume, but remain at a smaller share than the other options.

It’s worth noting that many of diesel’s woes may come down to politics. The EU has imposed stricter environmental regulations regarding diesel vehicles. Auto manufacturers have pushed back against these rules arguing that they are too broad. Car manufacturers concede that older diesel vehicles do have problems, but argue that they can be improved, whereas newer diesel vehicles are more environmentally friendly.

However, a study which was recently released by The International Council on Clean Transportation has demonstrated that diesel cars fail to meet the EU’s emission standards. Their study found that the even the most efficient diesel cars were “more than twice the type-approval limits.” Less efficient models were as much as 18 times the approved limit.

Regardless of the reasoning, Porsche’s decision to end diesel cars may prompt other companies to do the same. On the other hand, a hole in the market could provide an opening for competitors, so diesel fans will likely have some options for the time being.

Editors' Recommendations

Eric Brackett
Former Digital Trends Contributor
The difference between diesel- and gasoline-powered cars
2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison

Have you always wondered what separates a diesel-powered car from a gasoline-powered one? For starters, you'll never need to change a diesel engine's spark plugs or a gasoline engine's glow plugs. Both technologies are similar in the sense that they ignite a fuel inside cylinders to create horsepower and torque -- however, there are also major differences in how the two types of vehicles work. That's why you can't fill up a diesel with gasoline (or vice versa) without causing expensive damage to your engine -- or, in some cases, completely destroying it.

Here's the difference between gasoline- and diesel-powered engines.

Read more
The best diesel cars
2020 jeep wrangler ecodiesel  rubicon

Diesel-powered cars are making a comeback as consumers clamor for cars with robust engines with a more responsible fuel economy, meaning a diesel car is worth considering for your next major get-around.

The best diesel-powered cars are not only for standard passenger cars. Some of our top picks include SUVs and substantially sized trucks, and you’ll find foreign and domestic options loaded with all the comfort features and entertainment options you could want. Here are the best diesel-powered cars for 2021, to fit a range of budgets and needs.
At a glance

Read more
Porsche’s second electric model is a sports car in hiking boots
2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

Porsche turned the Taycan, its first series-produced electric car, into a zero-emissions station wagon named Cross Turismo. The model blends the heart of a battery-powered sports sedan with the personality of a rugged SUV.

Previewed by the 2019 Mission E Cross Turismo, the second wagon in the Porsche range (after the mighty Panamera) has changed little in its transition from a concept to a production car. It shares its basic front-end design with the Taycan sedan, no one is going to mistake it for anything other than a Porsche, but it gains a longer and flatter roof line that clears up nearly four additional inches of headroom for the rear passengers. Trunk space checks in at up to 15.7 cubic feet with a full load of passengers on board, and 42.8 cubes with the rear seats folded flat.

Read more