Porsche might shelve plans for electric Boxster and Cayman sports cars – The planned arrival of Porsche’s electric future was to be a subdued whir and a show-stopping announcement. The 718 Boxster and Cayman, which are all electric, were supposed to be the next big thing for the brand, proving that Stuttgart could keep the driving spirit alive even without gas.
Now, though, it seems like that vision is shaky at best. Rumors have recently circulated in Germany suggesting that Porsche is considering abandoning the 718 EVs altogether, meaning that they may never go from concept to production. Porsche might shelve plans for electric Boxster and Cayman sports cars
It was believed that the electric 718 twins would mark a turning point when Porsche initially revealed its ambitions. They were supposed to make their debut in 2025 and serve as Porsche’s entry-level electric sports vehicles, sitting below the Taycan but continuing the legacy of two of the most cherished nameplates in the company’s history. Fun, exhilarating, and light (at least conceptually), but it doesn’t have an exhaust sound. Initially, the road map appeared to be unobstructed. After that, the truth stepped in.
Michael Leiters, who became Porsche’s CEO on January 1, 2026, is reportedly reevaluating the company’s overall strategy, according to a Bloomberg story. One possibility on the table is drastic: scrap the electrified 718 Boxster and Cayman entirely. Another is to push them far into the future. Either way, the once-confident schedule has crumbled into uncertainty. Porsche might shelve plans for electric Boxster and Cayman sports cars
So what went wrong?
A promising EV fantasy runs into hard numbers
At the heart of the issue is money—and lots of it. Porsche originally conceived the new-generation 718 models as fully electric vehicles from the bottom up. That decision made reasonable at the time. EV momentum was strong, governments were tightening emissions limits, and luxury consumers were prepared to adopt electrification. Building a clean-sheet EV platform would future-proof the 718 line for the next decade.
But in late 2025, Porsche made a significant shift. Faced with cooling EV demand and pressure from traditional clients, the business determined it needed to preserve engine combustion and hybrid alternatives alongside electric ones. That single decision caused a cascade of engineering issues. Porsche might shelve plans for electric Boxster and Cayman sports cars
An EV platform is fundamentally different from one intended for engines and fuel tanks. Batteries lie low and wide; exhaust systems don’t exist; cooling requirements are radically different. To immediately modify that architecture to accommodate combustion engines, fuel systems, and exhaust gear entailed effectively re-engineering the entire car. According to sources, the reversal cost Porsche around $1.96 billion—a stunning price, especially for a premium brand.
Delays piled up as well. What was once a basic EV project became a convoluted balance between old and new technologies. Engineers were entrusted with making one chassis perform everything, and that complexity delayed progress to a crawl.
Software issues and a battery blow
The troubles didn’t stop with hardware. Porsche, like many traditional automakers, has struggled on the software front. Persistent malfunctions and development delays inside the company’s software business reportedly pushed timetables farther back, impacting everything from car controls to battery management systems.
Then came another severe blow: the collapse of Northvolt in 2025. The Swedish manufacturer was Porsche’s major battery supplier, and its collapse pushed the automaker to seek for alternatives. Securing new suppliers, confirming new battery chemistries, and rethinking integration plans added more time, more cost, and more uncertainty to a project that was already under duress. Porsche might shelve plans for electric Boxster and Cayman sports cars
To make matters worse, incorporating a hybrid powertrain into a chassis initially intended primarily for batteries and electric motors proved significantly more complex than anticipated. Hybrids sound like a best-of-both-worlds solution on paper, but in fact, they necessitate complicated packaging and thermal management. Every compromise compromised the initial concept of a lightweight, razor-sharp electric sports car.
China cools on luxury EVs
Beyond engineering, market factors have shifted—and not in Porsche’s advantage. China, once the brand’s most crucial growth engine, has cooled dramatically. In 2025, Porsche sold 26% fewer automobiles in China compared to the previous year. That’s not a little dip; it’s a warning indicator. Porsche might shelve plans for electric Boxster and Cayman sports cars
Chinese shoppers, especially younger ones, are increasingly turning toward indigenous firms that provide cutting-edge electronics at more reasonable costs. Cars like the Xiaomi SU7 have attracted attention, merging performance, software, and value in ways that established luxury companies are striving to match.
Even Porsche’s own electric poster child, the Taycan, has felt the sting. Sales reportedly declined by roughly 21% in 2025. That drop reflects anything more than a brief setback. If even devoted Porsche devotees are afraid to go electric, producing a specialized EV sports vehicle like the 718 suddenly looks more riskier. Porsche might shelve plans for electric Boxster and Cayman sports cars
Profitability versus promises
All of this puts Porsche facing an uncomfortable question: does it make sense to keep pouring billions into electric sports cars when demand is falling and profits are under pressure?. Development costs are increasing faster than a 911 Turbo on the Autobahn, while global luxury-car sales—especially in China—are losing momentum. For a corporation that prides itself on meticulous engineering and solid profitability, the numbers are starting to look ugly.
That’s why board members are apparently contemplating whether the electric 718s should be removed outright or delayed until the market stabilizes. From a purely financial sense, focusing on proven models, high-margin SUVs, and selective electrification would be the safer choice.
But emotionally, the stakes are bigger. The Boxster and Cayman aren’t just vehicles; they symbolize Porsche’s accessible sports-car soul. Turning them electric was supposed to be a statement of confidence—a message that the brand could grow without sacrificing its character. Scrapping them could be perceived as an acknowledgment that the change is harder than intended. Porsche might shelve plans for electric Boxster and Cayman sports cars
What comes next for Porsche?
For yet, Porsche hasn’t made anything official. The corporation remains openly committed to electrification, at least in concept. But the issue around the 718 EVs illustrates a bigger fact about the industry: the road to an all-electric future is far bumpier than early estimates anticipated.
Whether Porsche finally stays loyal to its initial electrified vision or discreetly retreats in the face of escalating costs and uncertain demand will become obvious soon. One thing is obvious, though—if even Porsche is tapping the brakes, the worldwide EV transition is entering a considerably more complex phase than anyone imagined. Porsche might shelve plans for electric Boxster and Cayman sports cars
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