Porsche might be in a mess of its own making. Sales for the German automaker were down globally by 8.0 percent through the first three months of the year. While sales in the United States were actually up, the foreign-made Macan and Cayenne made up nearly 68 percent of those sales here. That means tariffs could make the brand’s two most important models uncompetitive as it struggles in other regions.
A new report from The Wall Street Journal highlights the automaker’s precarious position as it straddles the line between being a mainstream luxury automaker, an EV innovator, and a high-end sports car brand with models that can cost $250,000. It’s a tough predicament, especially when most of its sales are two sub-$100,000 SUVs that share parts and platforms with other Volkswagen Group models.
Porsche could avoid tariffs on the Macan and Cayenne by making them Stateside, but part of the brand’s appeal and prestige lies in its “Made in Germany” label, a factor that Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume admitted in an interview with Automotive News “is extremely important in the US.” So it might be hard for the brand to just shift production stateside if it wants to retain its appeal.
The North American market saw sales increase 37 percent from January to March of this year thanks to Porsche’s SUVs. However, sales in Germany, China, and the rest of Europe declined 34, 42, and 10 percent, respectively.
Sales for the electric Taycan were down a staggering 49 percent at the end of last year, which Porsche attributed to a model changeover and slower-than-planned “ramp-up of electric mobility.”
The entry-level Taycan starts at $102,550, offering 402 horsepower and a 4.5-second 0-60 time. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, meanwhile, has 641 horsepower, a 3.25-second 0-60 time, and a $67,675 starting price. You could spend the difference on an entire second car. Perhaps a nice, new Miata you won't drive?
Taycan sales are down 1 percent globally through the first quarter, which isn’t good news for the upcoming Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster, which are supposed to be fully electric.
The 718 was rumored to debut sometime next year, but a recent report suggested that Porsche has paused the 718 program due to the battery supplier going bankrupt. Now, it might not arrive until 2207 or later. Production for the current-generation 718 is supposed to end later this year, potentially leaving a two-year gap between 718 generations.
That means we could see the 911 serve as the brand’s entry-level sports car—but it’s expensive. The 2026 Carrera starts at $129,950, an increase of over $7,500 compared to 2025. At the higher end is the 911 Carrera 4 GTS, at $178,850. After that, new versions of the GT3 and GT2 models will likely crack the $230,000 mark when they arrive later this year.
The 2025 911 GT3 saw its price increase by $53,000 to start, for a new total of $224,495. Porsche also increased the price of the 2025 Cayenne. But, as Blume told Autonews, “These are challenging times for Porsche, too,” and the executive is working to make the company “even more robust” in the face of increased competition in China, political uncertainty, and a dynamic market.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal, Automotive News
