Porsche to stop making diesel cars in favour of electric and hybrid

Porsche is the latest vehicle manufacturer to announce that it is to stop producing diesel cars. It follows a 2015 scandal in which its parent company, Volkswagen, admitted it had cheated emissions tests for diesel engines. The Porsche chief executive said the company was “not demonising diesel”.

“It is and will remain an important propulsion technology,” Oliver Blume said. “We as a sports car manufacturer, however, for whom diesel has always played a secondary role, have come to the conclusion that we would like our future to be diesel-free. Petrol engines are well suited for sporty driving.”

The firm’s Macan, Cayenne and Panamera four-door were all previously available with Audi diesel engines and were caught up in the dieselgate scandal.

“Nevertheless, Porsche’s image has suffered, Mr Blume added. “The diesel crisis caused us a lot of trouble.”

Only 12 per cent of Porsches sold worldwide last year were diesel and the firm has said it will now concentrate on hybrid and electric models.

Porsche is understood to be developing a fully-electric luxury car, with a multi-billion euro investment.