Porsche R&D chief: "I don't consider Tesla a direct competitor
Porsche, which is producing its first production electric car, is not targeting Tesla, the German automaker's head of research and development has said.
"We do not see Tesla as a direct competitor," Michael Steiner told Automotive News Europe in an interview published Wednesday.
In launching the Model 3, Tesla is aiming for higher sales volumes than those in which Porsche is interested, Steiner noted. Porsche also has different criteria for success, he said.
"We don't want to be the range leader for electric cars," Steiner said. Instead, Porsche plans to focus on smaller, lighter and faster-charging batteries."
The Porsche Taikan lags behind the Tesla Model S in terms of range. While the Model S has a range of over 300 miles, the EPA maximum for the Tayscan is 201 miles. That's the figure for the mid-size Taycan Turbo model. The base model Taycan 4S may get better numbers (not yet announced), but it's unlikely to close the gap with the Model S. Porsche decided to import electronic driver assistance systems from gasoline cars and not use the powerful regenerative braking used in other electric cars.
Initially, the Taycan generated significant interest from Tesla owners, with Porsche reporting that many of the pre-order buyers already had a Tesla in their garage.
The next generation Porsche Macan, due out in 2022, will feature an electric powertrain and could compete with the Tesla Model Y.
The Tesla Model Y is also expected to be in high demand with buyers. However, Steiner said the Macan will also be offered with a gasoline engine if buyers want it and regulators allow it. Steiner said: "As electric vehicles will not develop at the same pace in all regions, we expect that in some segments we will have to offer both an internal combustion engine and an all-electric or plug-in hybrid version in parallel."Porsche is also following Tesla in developing its own charging infrastructure and using a similar name. Tesla's is Supercharger, while Porsche's is Turbocharger.
Porsche's DC fast charging stations can charge up to 350 kilowatts, making them among the most powerful. The Taikan's 800-volt electrical architecture allows the vehicle to charge at this rate. Porsche claims that the station can increase range by 100 kilometers (62 miles) in just five minutes.
In addition to the Taikan sedan and Macan crossover, Porsche will launch the Taikan Cross Turismo Wagon. With more practicality than the Model S but a neater package than the Model X, the Cross Turismo will probably not be a direct competitor to the Tesla.
