Porsche Pauses Production on Most Models Over Parts Availability
If you're in the market to buy a Porsche you may be out of luck, many models have been indefinitely put on pause.
This article is more than 2 years old
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has had many horrendous consequences. People have been forced out of their homes, Putin has hinted at threats of nuclear war, and prices for natural gases have surged worldwide. The car company Porsche has also felt the negative impact of the Russian invasion, halting many of its famous models due to its harness manufacturers existing in Ukraine.
Allegedly, Porsche sent out an email stating its pause on manufacturing many of its renowned models this past week. This materialized because of insufficiencies in acquiring wiring harnesses, a necessary part of Porsche’s vehicles. 7% of wiring harnesses come from Ukraine plants, which have slowed down due to the Russian invasion. Though less than 10% of car companies globally have harnesses made by Ukraine, most Porsche’s vehicles use this Ukrainian-made harness, putting the company in a dire situation.
The first model known to be receiving this indefinite production pause is the Taycan. The 2020 Porsche Taycan is an electrical vehicle, the car company’s rival to the ever-growing Tesla. Unfortunately for Porsche, the sales for this EV will be on a hiatus for this coming year. Other models like the Macan and the Panamera will continue to be produced at a minuscule rate. So far, the 911 and the 718 are the only vehicles unaffected, but that’s subject to change in the coming weeks.
Consumers are already floundering in an expensive new car market, receiving even more financial and physical strains from Porsche’s manufacturing pause. For those who’ve already ordered these Porsche models, furiously long wait times will ensue. The car company added that it will still assess the situation day by day, hopefully accounting for all of the car orders that have already been carried out. If Porsche can find a way around the debilitating harness deficit, it might change its current production policies.
Though the initial company email explained the harness debacle was leaked, Porsche didn’t deny the content the email addressed. A spokesperson for the car company confirmed that specific models would not continue being produced, including the Porsche Taycan. The spokesperson also stated that the company’s Leipzig plant, its largest German manufacturing facility, will continue to make certain models but at a reduced rate.
March has not been easy for the luxurious car brand. Porsche had many of its vehicles fall off a car carrier in the Atlantic Ocean at the beginning of the month. Over 4,000 cars dropped from the ship into the ocean, unfortunately sinking into its depths. The cause of this mishap was an unexplained fire, causing the entire carrier to sink with all of its expensive cargo. Alongside the Porsche models, sunken vehicles included Lamborghinis, Volkswagens, and Bentleys.
Luxury car brands have experienced immense difficulty over the past few years. Unfortunately for Porsche, something as small and simplistic as a wiring harness is enough to pause production on many popular vehicles. The company continues to assess the situation while churning out needed vehicles in its German manufacturing plant. If Porsche finds a solution for this harness shortage, it may bring some models out of the indefinite hiatus.
