Porsche may cancel electric 718 Boxster and Cayman models amid development delays and rising costs

Porsche's new CEO Michael Leiters is considering scrapping the battery-powered versions of the upcoming 718 Boxster and Cayman sports cars due to development delays and rising expenses, according to Bloomberg citing internal sources. The company wound down production of the current 718 models late last year in preparation for what was originally planned as an electric-only successor, before adding a combustion option to adapt to consumer preferences and regulatory changes. The original 718 generation entered production in 2016 and was set to be discontinued due to new European cybersecurity laws.

Why it matters: The potential cancellation signals how development cost pressures and shifting EV demand are forcing even premium manufacturers to reassess electrification timelines, which may affect charging infrastructure planning for sports car segments. Procurement teams tracking OEM commitments should note the growing trend of automakers delaying or cancelling EV programmes originally announced as firm pipeline projects.