[St00k]

Shots fired!

In a recent interview with Germany's Handelsblatt, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume was asked if anyone will be talking about Tesla after September 1st.

Blume's response is shockingly confident (via Google translate).

"To be honest, we did not think so."

Blume goes on to explain himself, stating that his respect for Tesla and its founder Elon Musk.

I have absolute respect for the courage of Elon Musk and also for his innovation and pioneering spirit. I like that. Pioneering spirit is a characteristic that also shapes us at Porsche."

Blume goes on to say that when Porsche benchmarks a performance car, it doesn't look to Tesla, but to the iconic 911.

From there, he states the many advantages the Taycan has over conventional ICE cars, with a lower center of gravity and the ability to put power to each wheel independently.

 

[MPawelek]

I hate to disagree with the CEO of Porsche but the vast amount of folks looking at EV autos cannot afford a 100k+ car so until Porsche comes out with a 35k EV Tesla will still outsell Porsche. Granted Porsche will sell more Taycan’s to the more affluent but I think Oliver is reading too much of his own press....
If Porsche goes the way of Mercedes trying to be in every driveway with it’s A and C Class offerings Porsche will never be the same.

 

[porscheholic]

I hate to disagree with the CEO of Porsche but the vast amount of folks looking at EV autos cannot afford a 100k+ car so until Porsche comes out with a 35k EV Tesla will still outsell Porsche. Granted Porsche will sell more Taycan’s to the more affluent but I think Oliver is reading too much of his own press....
If Porsche goes the way of Mercedes trying to be in every driveway with it’s A and C Class offerings Porsche will never be the same.

I agree.

Porsche even said they don't compete with Tesla. They will to some extent with some models but even then its a different experience.

 

[James8955!]

I hate to disagree with the CEO of Porsche but the vast amount of folks looking at EV autos cannot afford a 100k+ car so until Porsche comes out with a 35k EV Tesla will still outsell Porsche. Granted Porsche will sell more Taycan’s to the more affluent but I think Oliver is reading too much of his own press....
If Porsche goes the way of Mercedes trying to be in every driveway with it’s A and C Class offerings Porsche will never be the same.

I appreciate the enthusiasm that Blume has for the Taycan but this seems completely out of place for Porsche. All this does is add pressure for the Taycan to not only be a commercial success, but to make sure it's better than the Model S. If not, these words will linger around other Porsche EV projects.

 

[Rquinton]

I am more interested in his September 1st comment. The Frankfurt Auto show is from September 10-20 so are we getting an earlier announcement on 9/1? It would be 9-1-19 homage to the 911?

 

[TEV31]

I appreciate the enthusiasm that Blume has for the Taycan but this seems completely out of place for Porsche. All this does is add pressure for the Taycan to not only be a commercial success, but to make sure it's better than the Model S. If not, these words will linger around other Porsche EV projects.

Porsche also has the advantage of the 918 successor painting a positive image for the rest of their EV program as it too will go electric.

 

[Friedrich]

Shots fired!

In a recent interview with Germany's Handelsblatt, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume was asked if anyone will be talking about Tesla after September 1st.

Blume's response is shockingly confident (via Google translate).

"To be honest, we did not think so."

Blume goes on to explain himself, stating that his respect for Tesla and its founder Elon Musk.

I have absolute respect for the courage of Elon Musk and also for his innovation and pioneering spirit. I like that. Pioneering spirit is a characteristic that also shapes us at Porsche."

Blume goes on to say that when Porsche benchmarks a performance car, it doesn't look to Tesla, but to the iconic 911.

From there, he states the many advantages the Taycan has over conventional ICE cars, with a lower center of gravity and the ability to put power to each wheel independently.

OH NO!!
I am very sorry, but Blume words are obviously lost in translation!
And your translation COMPLETELY changes the meaning!!!
Additionally, your translator added words not said by Blume.

Interviewer:
"Wird ab dem 1. September keiner mehr über Tesla sprechen?"
(translated, "after September 1, will anyone be still talking about Tesla?"
Blume:
"Da haben wir uns, ehrlich gesagt, keine Gedanken gemacht."

A better translation:
"Honestly said, we did to even think about (Tesla)" then he goes on to say "das glauben wir nicht." or translated "we dont believe so "(that noone will be thinking of Tesla). In other words, we dont think so, that noone will be talking about Tesla. So he is meaning that of course people will still be thinking about Tesla, just meaning that Porsche doesn't bother thinking about Tesla.

Then he continues:
"Ich habe absolute Hochachtung vor dem Mut von Elon Musk und auch vor seinem Innovations- und Pioniergeist. Finde ich klasse. Pioniergeist ist eine Eigenschaft, die auch uns bei Porsche prägt. Allerdings ist Tesla an vielen Stellen einen anderen Weg gegangen. Wenn wir einen neuen Porsche aufsetzen, legen wir den Maßstab immer an uns selbst an: Der Taycan muss sich so fahren wie der 911."

He praises Musk. Translated: "I have only the highest regards of the courage of Elong Musk and of his innovations and spirit of innovations. I find it exemplary (no real translation). The spirit of innovation is a characteristic that is also forthcoming at Porsche. However, Tesla has in many places taken a different path. When Porsche designs a new car, then the standards are Porsche itself, the Taycan must drive like the 911."

(Translated by me....LOL....Google translator is horrible and undependable!!)

Interview:
https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/industrie/oliver-blume-im-interview-porsche-chef-ueber-moegliche-us-strafzoelle-alles-was-zweistellig-ist-werden-wir-sehr-deutlich-spueren/24408024.html?ticket=ST-1120560-QwRSJRO5KGIeqeEsMYLQ-ap1

PS: The headline of the article states that Porsche will feel an 2 digit Tariffs from the trump administration. The articles has a lot about the possible Trump tariffs

 

[porscheholic]

It all comes down to the buying mindset of consumers which are different in Tesla and Porsche buyers already.
I have friends in those two categories and they have very different reasons for buying. So someone buying a Tesla won't think about Porsche as much as someone buying Porsche won't think about Tesla. Its how consumer mindsets work.

 

[Imclueless]

It all comes down to the buying mindset of consumers which are different in Tesla and Porsche buyers already.
I have friends in those two categories and they have very different reasons for buying. So someone buying a Tesla won't think about Porsche as much as someone buying Porsche won't think about Tesla. Its how consumer mindsets work.

I had a model s and now have a Panamera ....

 

[Smitty11]

It all comes down to the buying mindset of consumers which are different in Tesla and Porsche buyers already.
I have friends in those two categories and they have very different reasons for buying. So someone buying a Tesla won't think about Porsche as much as someone buying Porsche won't think about Tesla. Its how consumer mindsets work.

I see your point but I know people that have or have had Teslas and they're chomping at the bit to get the Taycan.

 

[TEV31]

I see your point but I know people that have or have had Teslas and they're chomping at the bit to get the Taycan.

What reasons did they give you?
Curious to know because owning a Tesla is still on the table for me. Elon has resources to tap into. I mean, buy outs were offered and with that can come changes that were much needed.

 

[Smitty11]

What reasons did they give you?
Curious to know because owning a Tesla is still on the table for me. Elon has resources to tap into. I mean, buy outs were offered and with that can come changes that were much needed.

The biggest thing with them is that they're not Tesla die hards. The don't see Tesla as the only way to go for EVs unlike some of the Tesla fanboys. It also doesn't bother them that the Taycan is slightly slower than the Model S in a straight line, they're more curious how it handles and feels to drive compared to Tesla.

 

[Tech2XS]

I had a model s and now have a Panamera ....

I currently have a Model S but will switch to the Taycan in a heartbeat if it looks like the concept car. Waiting to see the production model before I decide whether to replace my Model S with another one or switch to Porsche.

 

[TEV31]

I currently have a Model S but will switch to the Taycan in a heartbeat if it looks like the concept car. Waiting to see the production model before I decide whether to replace my Model S with another one or switch to Porsche.

Compared to anything else on the market without getting into supercar territory, the Taycan is as exotic as an $80k (estimated) everyday electric car gets. Just make sure you see one in person ASAP as it shows up near you.

 

[bigcooter]

I appreciate the enthusiasm that Blume has for the Taycan but this seems completely out of place for Porsche. All this does is add pressure for the Taycan to not only be a commercial success, but to make sure it's better than the Model S. If not, these words will linger around other Porsche EV projects.

Why would you think Taycan to be "out of place" for Porsche?? Porsche IS the World leader in high performance electrification of automobiles ... their 918 Hybrid is the fastest production car in the World, smashing records at the Nurburgring for 6+ years now.

 

[bigcooter]

I hate to disagree with the CEO of Porsche but the vast amount of folks looking at EV autos cannot afford a 100k+ car so until Porsche comes out with a 35k EV Tesla will still outsell Porsche. Granted Porsche will sell more Taycan’s to the more affluent but I think Oliver is reading too much of his own press....
If Porsche goes the way of Mercedes trying to be in every driveway with it’s A and C Class offerings Porsche will never be the same.

Porsche doesn't sell $35K cars, VW does ... VW will be selling the high volume lower priced EV's that will rock most of Tesla's revenue stream. Porsche owns 31% of VW, and has majority voting control.

 

[James8955!]

Why would you think Taycan to be "out of place" for Porsche?? Porsche IS the World leader in high performance electrification of automobiles ... their 918 Hybrid is the fastest production car in the World, smashing records at the Nurburgring for 6+ years now.

I just think that Porsche should just let the Taycan do the talking when it comes out. The execs shouldn't have to beat their chest and say stuff like this for the car.

 

[TEV31]

I just think that Porsche should just let the Taycan do the talking when it comes out. The execs shouldn't have to beat their chest and say stuff like this for the car.

I actually don't mind Porsche talking.
It only sucks when they get someone with no product knowledge or adequate background, instead just at presentable looking person. Porsche hasn't disappointed so far.