Porsche has cited ‘cultural shift’ among customers for ditching diesel engines as more petrol and hybrid powertrains are wanted
Porsche has officially announced that it has stopped rolling out diesel variants of its Macan and Panamera as it is experiencing a ‘cultural shift’ among buyers worldwide. The culmination of all diesel vehicles also comes as an aftermath of the stringent future emission standards devised across the globe.
The German company has ended the production of Macan S Diesel and Panamera 4S Diesel – last of the two available Porsches with oil-burners. Less than a decade ago, the first of these models was sent off the assembly lines. The first generation Cayenne was the maiden Porsche to sell a diesel engine and with the brand electing not to launch a new version in the SUV’s latest update, the reign has come to an end.
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The Macan S Diesel goes out of production as customers demanding more petrol and hybrid variants according to Porsche in an official declaration. It has also been said that the removal of diesel powertrains is related to yet another software update which is being consulted with the authorities.
This could be the reason why Porsche opted not to update the Macan S Diesel in order to comply with the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP). A recent analysis of both the Macan S and Panamera 4S Diesel elaborate their declining sales numbers within the range as well.
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Porsche has always relied on companies within the Volkswagen Group to source diesel engines as they account for only 15 percent of its worldwide sales. Moreover, investment in diesel was stopped last year to shift its focus on electrified solutions.
Porsche may continue to produce the diesel engines for the models that have demand. However, the bigger picture is the upcoming vehicles with autonomous technologies and zero-emission powertrains, like in the Mission E, in the near future.