Porsche has just unveiled the new second-generation Macan, and it’s fully electric. It seems like a bold move for Porsche to go EV with its best-selling model, but the company is hedging its bets. A Porsche spokesperson confirmed this Engine1 that the gas model will live on in the US for the foreseeable future.
As previously reported, the spokesperson also confirmed that internal combustion Macan sales will end in Europe due to a new cybersecurity law coming into effect in July. Being one of the oldest products in Porsche’s portfolio, the automaker would have to develop a new electrical architecture to make the Macan compatible with internal combustion. A prohibitively expensive undertaking, especially when you consider the investment in the electric Macan.
In the US, cars do not have to meet these new requirements. That means Porsche can sell the internal combustion Macan here, and the spokesperson tells us that will happen as long as market demand and regulations allow. But Porsche won’t update the car from its current form.
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US dealers are understandably apprehensive about the new Macan. The small SUV is typically the best-selling model in this country and the most affordable new Porsche available. With demand for electric cars declining and the electric Macan having a base price more than $18,000 higher than its predecessor, it’s clear why Porsche wants to keep sales of internal combustion Macans going.
Sales of internal combustion Macans will continue in other markets. Great Britain, for example, is no longer part of the European Union. These regulations will not affect sales of the 911, Taycan, Panamera and Cayenne, all of which use a new electrical architecture and are compliant with the law. At this time it is unclear whether the new law will affect sales of the 718, so we asked Porsche for clarification.