Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Nissan to pause UK production line due to supply disruption
      VW faces EU fine for missing 2020 emissions targets
      VW brand's Trinity EV flagship will have three key innovations
      Lotus could share with other automakers EV platform developed with Renault's Alpine
    • Nissan to pause UK production line due to supply disruption
      VW brand's Trinity EV flagship will have three key innovations
      Lotus could share with other automakers EV platform developed with Renault's Alpine
      Alfa Romeo starts life in Stellantis with a promise of growth
    • Suppliers to the new Audi A3
      Suppliers to the new Toyota Supra
      Thyssenkrupp weighs steel-unit spinoff as alternative to sale
      How Marelli aims to become a 'Tier 0.5' supplier
    • VW brand's Trinity EV flagship will have three key innovations
      Decision to build Renault 5 EV in France boosts French workers
      Citroen turns to SUV cues for new C4 compact
      Skoda adds hybrid to strong-selling Octavia RS family
    • UK's plan to ban combustion cars threatens Astra factory
      Mercedes badge_1.jpg
      Mercedes meets European CO2 target with late-year surge in EV sales
      EV-only future looks closer than ever in Europe
      VW to link bonuses to social targets
    • Europe sales fell 4% in December; 2020 worst year on record
      Stellantis seeks new joint venture in China, reports say
      Russia car sales forecast to rise 2.1% in 2021
      FCA-PSA merger adds uncertainty to Peugeot's return to U.S., brand chief says
    • PSA veteran Norman will head Opel sales and marketing
      Alfa Romeo starts life in Stellantis with a promise of growth
      Volvo purchasing boss who led sustainability push resigns
      Vauxhall's new boss is former VW, Nissan executive Willcox
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Frankfurt Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Latest Launches
    • Analyst's View
    • Segment Analysis
    • Europe By The Numbers
    • EV-only future looks closer than ever in Europe
      European car retailing poised for shake-up as 'agency' model gains support
      How Europe will become an EV battery powerhouse
      VW, Ford stumbles force rethink of how to best use social media
    • Nvidia CEO says software will soon define the car, drive profit
      Tavares: Keeping PSA, FCA merger on track an 'incredible' achievement
      Renault CEO outlines ambitious revival plan
      Why Rolls-Royce boss expects to be profitable despite COVID
    • Marelli CEO expects e-powertrains to provide long-term boost
      Veoneer boss expects to reach key milestone this quarter
      How Faurecia aims to become a hydrogen leader
      How Yanfeng gave the car interior a brain
    • Arrival Van.jpg
      How Arrival intends to disrupt the delivery van market
      Polestar 2's performance, convenience offset range anxiety
      Chinese EV maker Xpeng outlines Europe rollout plan
      Nio ET7-MAIN.jpg
      Nio debuts first electric sedan
    • Fiat aims high-riding Tipo Cross at frugal adventure lovers
      Citroen turns to SUV cues for new C4 compact
      BENTAYGAHYBRID-MAIN_i.jpg
      Bentley freshens Bentayga Hybrid
      BMW 4-Series Coupe breaks free from sedan sibling
    • Pandemic forces automakers to focus on brand, conserve cash
      Why prospects for dealer mergers have improved
      Dacia-level price discipline needed to end margin slump in Europe, expert says
      How infotainment systems are taking over the vehicle cockpit
    • Wagons hold market share, but costly EV shift looms
      Electrification gains speed in Europe's key compact segment
      Hybrids beat the market; sales expected to top 1 million in 2022
      Plug-in hybrids set for rapid rise but trouble looms
    • Europe sales fell 4% in December; 2020 worst year on record
      Russia car sales forecast to rise 2.1% in 2021
      France overtakes UK as Europe's No. 2 market
      Europe sales by model, Nov. and 11 months: Audi A3, Jeep Compass rise; Toyota Yaris surprises
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
    • Renault, Ford, Honda look to the past for EV inspiration
      Polestar 2's performance, convenience offset range anxiety
      Bosch, Continental battle to supply the brain of the connected car
      Why the ID5 is VW's true rival to the Tesla Model Y
    • Understanding the impact of design on marketing, brand and user experience
      Ex-Aston Martin CEO Palmer calls on UK to intensify battery commitment
      Why Apple must target the $230B luxury car market
      Apple car: Who will build it? Magna Steyr possible candidate
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • view gallery
      15 photos
      Mercedes-Benz EQA compact crossover
      view gallery
      8 photos
      Dacia Bigster
      view gallery
      8 photos
      Renault 5 concept
      view gallery
      15 photos
      Toyota Mirai 2021
    • koenigsegg-gemera-front-quarter-passenger-01.jpg
      view gallery
      14 photos
      Koenigsegg Gemera
      view gallery
      21 photos
      Fiat New 500
      view gallery
      11 photos
      Aston Martin V12 Speedster
      view gallery
      13 photos
      Audi A3 Sportback 2020
    • At the Beijing show, sales rebound and EV boom mix with murky outlook
      3BEIJING-MAIN_i.jpg
      Beijing show to highlight competition for local EV makers
      Beijing auto show delayed due to coronavirus
      Maserati will unveil Ghibli hybrid at Beijing show
    • view gallery
      11 photos
      Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS
      view gallery
      11 photos
      Renault Captur
      view gallery
      5 photos
      Mercedes-Benz AMG GLB 53
      view gallery
      10 photos
      Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe
    • view gallery
      8 photos
      VinFast Lux A2.0 sedan
      view gallery
      8 photos
      VinFast Lux SA2.0 SUV
      view gallery
      9 photos
      Seat Tarraco
      view gallery
      7 photos
      Toyota Corolla station wagon
    • view gallery
      4 photos
      Nio ET Preview
      view gallery
      7 photos
      Infiniti Qs Inspiration concept
      view gallery
      5 photos
      BMW 3-series LWB
      view gallery
      9 photos
      Mini Clubman
  • Maps
    • E-Car & Component Map of Europe
    • Powertrain Map of Europe
    • Assembly Plant Map of Europe
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress Conversations
    • ANE Shift
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
    • ANE Leading Women
    • Watch Again
      • July 9: EU green deal in the COVID-19 new normal
      • July 16: Assisted or Autonomous Driving
      • July 23: Challenges in Electrification
      • July 30: The Road Ahead for Europe
    • Meet the 2020 winners
    • Watch the 2020 Rising Stars awards again
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automakers
April 15, 2020 06:43 AM

Porsche R&D boss on why Tesla is not a direct rival

Christiaan Hetzner
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    The Taycan is Porsche's first full-electric car.

    Porsche's push into full-electric cars is not an effort to challenge Tesla's dominance in the sector. That is because the Volkswagen Group subsidiary says the U.S. EV maker's aspiration is to be a volume producer, something that is not in the premium German brand's plans. Porsche R&D boss Michael Steiner discussed that and more with Automotive News Europe Correspondent Christiaan Hetzner.

    Porsche is electrifying its model range. In the interest of transparency, should the company disclose its fleet CO2 emissions figure?
    There are markets where regulators assess us separately, in China for example, while in Europe we are pooled together with Volkswagen. While we keep an account internally, it doesn't make sense for individual brands such as Porsche to publish separate figures in the latter case.

    Tesla CEO Elon Musk has attempted to beat the Porsche Taycan electric sedan's Nurburgring lap time record with the Model S. Is Tesla a rival?
    Although people like to play us off against each other, we do not consider Tesla to be a direct rival. With the Model 3, it's clear that they are more aggressively targeting the volume segment.

    How far ahead is Tesla in terms of its battery technology?
    Tesla employs round cells, a slightly different chemistry and another cooling concept, all of which have their specific advantages and disadvantages. In our opinion the kind of high battery capacities you might find installed in a Model S are not ideal in terms of sustainability. We believe in smaller, lighter and therefore less expensive batteries that can be recharged more quickly. It's not our aspiration to be the leader in electric range. Also, while we don't currently plan to develop another combustion engine architecture, that doesn't mean that we cannot maintain and improve models using the existing ones. That is valid for the Macan, because we cannot expect electric mobility to advance in all regions at the same pace, so we currently anticipate that in specific segments there will be a need to offer both a combustion engine and a full-electric or plug-in hybrid version in parallel. Customers and regulators will determine how long it will be necessary to maintain this.

    Does that mean there will be identical-looking Macans and the only difference is that one won't have a tailpipe?
    No, we will considerably differentiate them in terms of design so that it's possible to immediately identify which is which. We believe that during the transition to EVs customers want to be seen as driving electric.

    Porsche
    Meet the R&D boss

    NAME: Michael Steiner
    POSITION: Porsche board member for R&D
    AGE: 55
    STARTED CURRENT JOB: 2016

    Will you discontinue the Panamera's MSB rear-wheel-drive platform?
    The Panamera platform is not old, it debuted in 2016. We still have a lot of ideas for it in terms of infotainment and connectivity. But there is currently no plan to replace this platform, instead, we want to keep it fresh and attractive as long as possible.

    What factors will make your forthcoming SPE electric platform unique?
    We are convinced that very sporty cars, and roadsters in particular, need to be really flat. Drivers of a 911 or 718 want to sit as close as possible to the road. While electric cars have a low center of gravity thanks to their batteries being installed in the floor, that is not the only relevant aspect. To experience that sports car feeling it's also about your body's own center of gravity and how high up you are seated. That's why we want to develop such a platform, but there has not been a final decision on this matter.

    How attractive are fuel cell models to Porsche, considering that the stacks are lighter than batteries?
    We continue to examine it, but at the moment this technology is not suited to Porsche. For one the typical output of a stack is about 100 kilowatts, so if you want more power you still need to include a large battery to provide peak output. That means you need even more room for their installation. Secondly, the system's overall energy efficiency is very poor because it takes a lot of electricity to split water into hydrogen, distribute it to fuel stations and convert it back to electricity.

    AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE MONTHLY MAGAZINE

    This story is from Automotive News Europe's latest monthly magazine. To view the new issue, click here.
     

     

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Nissan to pause UK production line due to supply disruption
    Recommended for You
    Nissan to pause UK production line due to supply disruption
    Nissan to pause UK production line due to supply disruption
    VW faces EU fine for missing 2020 emissions targets
    VW faces EU fine for missing 2020 emissions targets
    VW brand's Trinity EV flagship will have three key innovations
    VW brand's Trinity EV flagship will have three key innovations
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • 2020 Media Kit
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Frankfurt Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Latest Launches
      • Analyst's View
      • Segment Analysis
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Maps
      • E-Car & Component Map of Europe
      • Powertrain Map of Europe
      • Assembly Plant Map of Europe
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress Conversations
        • Watch Again
          • July 9: EU green deal in the COVID-19 new normal
          • July 16: Assisted or Autonomous Driving
          • July 23: Challenges in Electrification
          • July 30: The Road Ahead for Europe
      • ANE Shift
      • ANE Rising Stars
        • Meet the 2020 winners
        • Watch the 2020 Rising Stars awards again
      • ANE Eurostars
      • ANE Leading Women
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us