Porsche is rethinking its electrification roadmap after weaker-than-expected demand for its all-electric lineup. The German automaker confirmed that its upcoming three-row flagship SUV, codenamed K1, will no longer debut as an EV. Instead, the model will launch with traditional combustion engines and a plug-in hybrid option, underscoring a more cautious approach to the transition away from gasoline.
The K1 will mark Porsche’s entry into the large three-row crossover market, positioned above the Cayenne. While details on timing remain uncertain, the move signals that Porsche isn’t ready to abandon internal combustion powertrains just yet. Executives admitted that slowing EV adoption, higher U.S. tariffs, and a cooling Chinese luxury market have forced a “strategic realignment.”
Porsche’s evolving portfolio
As part of this shift, Porsche plans to keep its current-generation 718 lineup alive in select high-performance gas variants such as RS and GT models. The fully electric Boxster and Cayman are still in development, though a dedicated EV platform originally targeted for 2030 has been delayed.
Meanwhile, the Macan will see a dual future: the recently launched all-electric Macan will coexist with a next-generation gas-powered version arriving in 2028, complete with a plug-in hybrid system. The Cayenne, too, is being split across both EV and combustion platforms, with the existing gas-powered version due for a significant refresh even as the all-electric Cayenne remains in the pipeline.
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Other pillars of Porsche’s lineup, including the Taycan, 911, and Panamera, will continue alongside the incoming K1 SUV. In practice, the brand will maintain parallel EV and combustion versions of its core models, even if they share names but differ significantly under the skin.
Billions earmarked for transition
Porsche acknowledged that this realignment comes with steep costs. The company expects to spend around $3.65 billion this fiscal year, with more financial outflows projected as it navigates a slower, more complex path toward electrification.
While Porsche has not provided a launch window for the K1, the decision highlights how luxury automakers are recalibrating to balance regulatory pressures, shifting consumer demand, and economic headwinds. For now, Porsche appears committed to hedging its bets between EVs and combustion power rather than pursuing a fully electric lineup at all costs.
