Important events – Quarter 3

Porsche sponsors team's young players
In July, Porsche’s partner football club FC Erzgebirge Aue in Saxony became part of Porsche’s youth development programme Turbo for Talent. Erzgebirge Aue stands for tradition and is a regional beacon with a large and loyal fan base. The club allows children and young people to develop personally through sports. In addition to their sporting development, the young people’s schooling is not allowed to fall by the wayside. FC Erzgebirge Aue is the fifth football club to join the Turbo for Talent youth development programme.

New faces in European sales 
Marco Schubert became the new Vice President Region Europe on 1 July, following in the footsteps of Barbara Frenkel, who moved to the Porsche Executive Board. Schubert was President of the Audi Sales Division China from 2018. Prior to this, he managed Asia and overseas sales at Škoda. In the preceding years, he was Managing Director of Audi in Sweden and also managed the Northern Europe region. Two months later, on 1 September, Sarah Simpson became Chief Executive Officer of Porsche Cars Great Britain, taking over from Marcus Eckermann, who took on a new role at Porsche AG. Sarah Simpson has worked for the Volkswagen Group for more than 20 years and has spent the last 10 years at Bentley Motors. She became Bentley’s Regional Director in its home market, the UK, in 2014. She has also been responsible for other international regions – initially Asia-Pacific, followed by the Middle East, Africa and India from 2020.

First SUV with a GT label – the new Cayenne Turbo GT
The latest Cayenne celebrated its premiere in early July. The Cayenne Turbo GT features a 471 kW (640 PS) four-litre V8 biturbo engine – that’s 67 kW (90 PS) more than the Cayenne Turbo Coupé. It can hit a top speed of 300 km/h – an increase of 14 km/h. The SUV has an even sportier look and is available exclusively as a four-seater Coupé. The Cayenne Turbo GT comes with all the available chassis systems fitted as standard as well as specially developed performance tyres. The engine and chassis have a distinct set-up resulting in a harmonious overall concept with excellent circuit characteristics, as demonstrated by Porsche test driver Lars Kern, who completed a lap of the 20.832 km Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:38.9 minutes in a Cayenne Turbo GT, thereby setting a new official SUV record.

Porsche and Rimac agreed to establish a joint venture with the involvement of Bugatti. Oliver Blume and Mate Rimac announced the name of the new hypercar manufacturer – Bugatti-Rimac.

Porsche, Rimac and Bugatti collaborating
Porsche and Rimac agreed to establish a joint venture with the involvement of Bugatti. Oliver Blume and Mate Rimac signed the contracts and announced the name of the new hypercar manufacturer – Bugatti-Rimac. Rimac will hold a 55 per cent stake in the joint venture, and Porsche will hold 45 per cent. Porsche additionally holds a 24 per cent stake in Rimac. Bugatti will be brought into the joint venture through its current owner Volkswagen, with its shares being transferred to Porsche. Under the aegis of the new company, the brands Bugatti and Rimac will initially produce two hypercar models – the Bugatti Chiron and the all-electric Rimac Nevera. Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. will continue to exist under the new joint venture. All Bugatti models will continue to be manufactured at the company’s own factory in Molsheim, Alsace. Jointly developed Bugatti models are envisaged further down the line.

Suppliers switch to green electricity
From 1 July, Porsche asked its approximately 1,300 series suppliers to use nothing but renewable energies for the manufacture of Porsche components. This applies to all production material contracts awarded for new vehicle projects starting after 1 July 2021. Suppliers who are not prepared to switch to certified green electricity will no longer be considered in Porsche’s contract awarding process in the long term. “Our battery cell suppliers have been having to use green electricity since 2020. There now follows the next important step – our other series suppliers must now likewise produce our components using nothing but renewable energies, thereby further reducing CO₂ emissions. We are facing up to our responsibility for sustainable and transparent supply chains,” says Uwe-Karsten Städter, Member of Porsche AG’s Executive Board responsible for Procurement. The sports car manufacturer’s supply chain is currently responsible for around 20 per cent of its greenhouse gas emissions. Going forward, the company expects this proportion to increase to around 40 per cent by 2030 as electrification increases. This is something which Porsche is tackling: “By exclusively using electricity from renewable energy sources, the suppliers are joining us on our way to achieving balance-sheet CO₂ neutrality,” says Städter.

Investment in the technology start-up Griiip
Porsche acquired a minority interest in the Israeli start-up Griiip. Griiip is seeking to digitalise motorsport and allow races to be experienced in a new dimension. Its target group is drivers, teams, fans and a younger audience looking for a more intensive and a personalised viewing experience via digital media. The Griiip developers have created a cloud-based data platform that transmits telemetry data directly from the racing car. The personalised digital media platform RAMP (Racing Media Platform) allows viewers to access the drivers’ profiles and view a driver’s stress level, the vehicle’s battery status, predicted lap times and tyre data.

Three versions of the new Macan
In July, Porsche unveiled three versions of the new Macan, all offering more power than their predecessors. The Macan GTS is especially sporty, boasting a 2.9-litre V6 biturbo engine with 324 kW (440 PS) of power – an increase of 44 kW (60 PS). It is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and has a top speed of 272 km/h. The Macan S likewise now features a V6 biturbo engine with displacement of 2.9 litres and power delivery of 280 kW (380 PS) – an increase of 20 kW (26 PS). This model accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and can hit a top speed of 259 km/h. A newly developed, supercharged four-cylinder in-line engine with 195 kW (265 PS) serves as a doorway to the Macan world. It can complete a standard sprint in 6.2 seconds and achieves a top speed of 232 km/h. As usual, all the engines are coupled to Porsche dual clutch transmission (PDK) with seven speeds and the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive system.

A great place in New York: top racing result for TAG Heuer’s and Porsche’s Formula E team.

All-electric on the streets of Brooklyn 
At the beginning of July, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team proved itself for the first time on the Brooklyn Street Circuit in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Porsche secured important championship points in two races in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. André Lotterer came eighth in race 10 in the Porsche 99X Electric. And in race 11, Lotterer and Pascal Wehrlein were within striking distance of the frontrunners, but missed out on third place by less than three seconds. Race 11 was the best team result for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team in only its second racing season. Offering views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, the street circuit is incredibly attractive. Formula E is the world’s first all-electric racing series and, as an accelerator of innovative and sustainable mobility technologies, has been bringing thrilling motorsport to people in cities since 2014. More automobile manufacturers competed in this than in any other racing series this season, which crowned both a driver and a team champion for the first time. This made the races all the more interesting and highly competitive.

Development of high-performance batteries
Porsche found a new cooperation partner for electric powertrains – together with BASF, the sports car manufacturer will develop a powerful lithium-ion battery for electric vehicles. BASF was selected by the Cellforce Group, which is a joint venture between Porsche AG and Customcells Itzehoe GmbH. BASF will provide high-energy HEDTM NCM cathode materials for high-performance battery cells designed to offer quick charging and high energy density. The Cellforce Group will produce the high-performance batteries. The Cellforce Group’s production facility is scheduled to go into operation in 2024 with initial annual capacity of at least 100 MWh, producing batteries for around 1,000 motorsport and high-performance vehicles. The partnership is a win-win situation. European sources for the materials nickel and cobalt offer good security of supply and short transport journeys. And production waste will be recycled at BASF’s prototype facility – strong arguments in favour of collaboration with BASF.

A million euros of immediate aid
In July, Porsche AG supported the Aktion Deutschland Hilft e.V. coalition in its work in the areas hit by the floods with a donation in the amount of one million euros. The funds went towards immediate aid for the flood victims and strengthened the work of the various rescue organisations in the affected regions. Porsche additionally called upon its employees to make private donations. The company has maintained a special relationship with the people in the areas affected by the floods for many decades. In particular in the region around the Nürburgring, many friendships and partnerships have grown on the basis of motorsport. Oliver Blume: “We are in close contact with our friends and partners. We know that the situation there is desperate. Many have been affected themselves or are volunteering as relief workers. So it is all the more important that we pull together now. Our Motorsport colleagues took emergency generators and other relief supplies to the Eifel region as soon as the news broke, for example. Our donations will now provide additional help to alleviate some of the suffering.”

Points for Porsche 99X Electric cars in London
Following his fastest time in the qualifying session, André Lotterer narrowly missed out on a third podium finish of the season for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team in the London E-Prix. In a strong field of 24 starters, he clinched fourth place with his Porsche 99X Electric on the ExCeL Track in East London’s historic Docklands. This marked Porsche’s racing premiere in the British city. The 2.25-kilometre course is the most spectacular in Formula E as it includes a section that passes through an exhibition centre, presenting the drivers and teams with some very particular challenges. Pascal Wehrlein of Germany likewise picked up points in the second Porsche 99X Electric, finishing in tenth place. 

Weissach working with 5G since August
Porsche entered the 5G age together with Vodafone when Hannes Ametsreiter, CEO of Vodafone Germany, and Michael Steiner, Member of the Porsche Executive Board responsible for Research and Development, switched on a 5G network at the Weissach Development Centre on 31 August. 5G offers secure and instantaneous transfer of data between vehicles, people and machines. This reduces the data interchange time lag, otherwise known as latency, to around 10 milliseconds. The 5G network in Weissach is one of the fastest in Europe. 5G and multi-access edge computing (MEC) are set to improve road safety. Ideally, cars will communicate with one another and give real-time warnings of accident hazards.

150 new trainees and students
Porsche in Zuffenhausen welcomed 150 new trainees and students from the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) at the start of the new training year. The company offers trainees and students training in, among other things, 3D printing, direct printing methods and human-robot collaboration. Porsche is training 511 young people in Zuffenhausen. Porsche offers all of its trainees and students permanent contracts.

Strategic sites in China and Malaysia
Porsche has established an ever-expanding network of research and development sites. In August, it announced expansion in China and Malaysia. A research and development site will be built in Shanghai starting in 2022. The new Shanghai site will complement Porsche Digital China founded at the beginning of the year and also Porsche Engineering China. “The new site will give us a better understanding of our local customers’ needs,” says Chairman of the Executive Board Oliver Blume. “The Chinese market is dynamic and the customer preferences are highly specific. We want to meet these demands in the best way possible.” In Malaysia, Porsche is building a local assembly facility. The Cayenne model series vehicles manufactured there will be specially tailored to the Malaysian market and will only be available for sale there. Together with Shell, Porsche is also working here on a cross-border high-performance charging network.

In early August, Porsche Motorsport celebrated the 25th anniversary of Manthey-Racing GmbH with an extra special model – the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25.

Limited-edition circuit racing model
In early August, Porsche Motorsport celebrated the 25th anniversary of Manthey-Racing GmbH with an extra special model – the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25. The racing car was developed for circuit racing and has been limited to a production run of 30 units. Based on the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport, this model is powered by a 3.8-litre six-cylinder boxer engine offering power of 515 kW (700 PS). The power is transferred to the rear wheels by the dual-clutch transmission. The distinct design of the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 features many components taken from familiar Porsche racing cars. 

Leipzig is Lean & Green World Class
The Porsche plant in Leipzig received a Lean & Green Management Award in the category Automotive OEM. The award was presented at the Green Shift Conference in Berlin. The jury awarded the production site the distinction Lean & Green World Class. The competition recognises the most impressive lean management approaches, taking environmental and sustainability aspects into account. Two hundred and fifty plants from more than 10 countries and 20 industries entered. “The accolade is both recognition and an incentive for us,” says Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Porsche AG Executive Board responsible for Production and Logistics, adding that the plant in Leipzig was developed with sustainability in mind from the outset. Gerd Rupp, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche Leipzig GmbH: “We incorporate sustainable thinking into all the business areas. Resource efficiency plays a key role here.”

Junior Leipzig players win Porsche Football Cup
The Porsche Football Cup was won by RB Leipzig’s U15 team. The Leipzig team beat Borussia Mönchengladbach’s junior players 2:0 at the ADM-Sportpark in Stuttgart. In the third-place play-off, the Stuttgarter Kickers’ U15 team won 5:2 on penalties against the junior players of FC Erzgebirge Aue. The ambassador for Porsche’s youth development programme Turbo for Talent, Sami Khedira, commented as follows: “Porsche and its partner clubs share the same values – team spirit, fairness, passion, respect and tolerance. I look forward to the second tournament in the new year.” The company donated 500 euros for every goal scored as part of the Goals for Charity campaign. With 36 goals being scored, the donation totalled 18,000 euros. The money went to two Stuttgart-based sports and activity projects for children and young people. Porsche upped the donation amount to 25,000 euros.

Porsche opened a new Porsche Experience Centre in Franciacorta, Italy, in September – the eighth of its kind in the world. It combines many of the things that make Porsche special – a motorsport atmosphere, unique design with iconic architecture and a brand experience venue for our global fan base.

Eighth Experience Centre worldwide opened
Porsche opened a new Porsche Experience Centre (PEC) in Franciacorta, Italy, in September – the eighth of its kind in the world. Covering approximately 60 hectares, the facility includes the Autodromo di Franciacorta handling circuit. It boasts an attractive location close to the airports in Milan, Bergamo and Verona. “The PEC Franciacorta combines many of the things that make Porsche special – a motorsport atmosphere, unique design with iconic architecture and a brand experience venue for our global fan base,” says Chairman of the Executive Board Oliver Blume. “We found the ideal location in Franciacorta. People in Italy are passionately enthusiastic about our brand. They can now indulge their passion here.” The handling circuit is the centrepiece. The corners and chicanes the length of its 2.5-kilometre main circuit are perfect for fine-tuning driving skills. An off-road course with ramps, corners and a gravel track has been designed with Cayenne and Macan drivers in mind.

New eFuels production plant in Chile
Porsche and Siemens Energy reached the next milestone – in early September, work began on an industrial eFuels production facility in Punta Arenas, Chile. Other international companies are also involved in the project. Initially, a pilot plant will be built, where around 130,000 litres of synthetic fuel are set to be produced annually starting in 2022. This has the potential to be almost entirely CO₂-neutral. The volumes are expected to grow in the future as the capacities are expanded. Porsche initiated the project and, going forward, intends to use eFuels in its own vehicles with an internal combustion engine. Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board responsible for Research and Development: “Our tests with renewable fuels are going very successfully. eFuels have the potential to be almost entirely CO₂-neutral in the future. Among other things, we will be using the first fuel from Chile in our Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup racing cars.”

The Porsche Sound Orchestra cranks it up
Current and former racing drivers broadcast engine sounds in a live stream in September. Highlights from Porsche’s motorsport history resonated for two hours. The event featured contrasting creations such as the engine of the Porsche 718 Formula 2 from 1960 and the 99X Electric from 2019. Hans-Joachim Stuck got behind the wheel of a 962 C and demonstrated what it sounds like at full throttle. Both the Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen and the Weissach Development Centre served as venues for this extra special sound spectacle. The interactive live event was free of charge and could be accessed by anyone without the need for prior registration. The event was broadcast around the world in German, English and French via the website www.soundnacht.porsche.de. The sound night was also broadcast live on Porsche’s YouTube and LinkedIn channels. Sound clips are available on YouTube and on the home page www.porsche.de/Museum.

Eighteen junior players from Porsche’s youth development programme Turbo for Talent received a Turbo Award for their exceptional commitment.

Mission R – a spectacular concept study
Porsche afforded a spectacular insight into the automotive future in early September at IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich when it unveiled its Mission R concept study, which combines cutting-edge technologies with sustainable materials. The sports car illustrates how natural fibre-reinforced plastics can prove their worth in motorsport. As well as progressive design, the decidedly low-slung, all-electric competition car boasts the characteristic Porsche lines. The Mission R’s two newly developed electric motors deliver power of up to 800 kW (1,088 PS). Its battery capacity of around 80 kWh and an innovative energy recuperation system allow for sprint racing without any loss of power. “Porsche is the brand for people who fulfil their dreams,” says Chairman of the Executive Board Oliver. “The concept study is our vision of all-electric customer motorsport. The Mission R embodies everything that makes Porsche strong – performance, design and sustainability.” The vehicle accelerates from a standing start to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and can hit a top speed of over 300 km/h. On the racetrack, the electric racer puts in the same lap time performance as the current Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Thanks to advanced 900-volt technology and Porsche Turbo Charging, all the battery needs is a good 15-minute break from racing to charge from 5 to 80 per cent state of charge (SoC).

The Art of Dreams
“Remember your dreams” by French artist and architect Cyril Lancelin is a large installation (L × W × H: 10 × 12.4 × 7.6 metres) comprising inflated elements. With The Art of Dreams, Porsche is commissioning works of art which address the topic of dreams. The company’s aim is to inspire, communicate optimism and contribute to vibrant communities.

Training centre in Leipzig grows
Porsche Leipzig took occupancy of some new space in time for the start of the new training year. New training and communal rooms were developed over space of 1,600 square metres. The new building is connected to the training and qualification centre built in 2017. When the first Porsche Cayenne rolled off the production line in Leipzig in 2002, there were five trainees at the site; there are now more than 120.

Porsche-assisted research and learning
Porsche AG agreed to a research project with the TU Dresden university of technology. The framework agreement was signed in September. TU Dresden and Porsche have been cooperating for 15 years. The sports car manufacturer donated a cockpit for a new driving simulator to the Chair of Automobile Engineering. Together with a quick-charging system, a Porsche Taycan serves as a real test car which is used for research on the digital twin project.

Supp_optimal: meals served to those in need
Porsche AG provided the Supp_optimal project of the Bürgerstiftung Stuttgart organisation with 250,000 euros in funding. To give some background, more than 12,000 meals have been served to people in precarious circumstances in the city since November 2020. The needs were actually much greater than this, however. The Porsche donation was used to fund additional temporary serving stations. The sum donated was raised thanks to a campaign involving the Porsche employees, with Porsche Gastronomy intentionally not passing the temporary reduction in VAT on to the guests as price reductions. The Executive Board and the Works Council instead chose to spend this sum on serving food to those in need.

Ferry Porsche Foundation helps schools
The Ferry Porsche Foundation funded 56 schools in Baden-Württemberg and Saxony, paying out 840,000 euros to be spent on hard- and software. “With initiatives such as the Ferry Porsche Challenge 2021, we are supporting schools, teachers and schoolchildren as they move into a digital future. There are still huge needs, in particular regarding hard- and software. We are therefore stepping up our engagement here, thereby assuming social responsibility,” says Sebastian Rudolph, Chairman of the Board of the Ferry Porsche Foundation. Each school was awarded 15,000 euros, which they used to purchase items including tablets, laptops and smart boards. The foundation also supports organisations such as the Hacker School, the NEO Academy and “Hey, Alter!” with the aim of comprehensively digitalising schools and familiarising schoolchildren with future-oriented skills. The foundation supports non-profit projects in the areas of social affairs, the environment, education and science, culture, and sport.

Jumps for posterity
Egon Zimmermann’s legendary ski jump over a Porsche in 1960 was the subject of a worthy restaging when two-time Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal jumped over a Taycan parked between walls of snow as tall as houses. The photography of The Porsche Jump stands for athleticism, courage and joie de vivre – and stages the most innovative sports car of its time. “The jump is a powerful symbol of the determination with which we at Porsche pursue our dreams,” says Lutz Meschke, Deputy Chairman and Member of the Executive Board responsible for Finance and IT at Porsche AG. “The photo shows how Porsche interprets future viability – daring to try new things and boldly forging ahead, always trusting in itself to go that little bit further than the others in order to discover the best solution.” The jump motif featured on the cover of the September issue of Porsche’s Christophorus magazine. The cover was created by American designer Jeffrey Docherty. The story of the jump was also documented in the September edition of 9:11 Magazine.

Legend Fritz Enzinger vacates the driving seat
Fritz Enzinger stepped down as Vice President of Porsche Motorsport after 10 years. “We can’t thank him enough for his hugely successful work. Fritz Enzinger shaped an era with incredible triumphs and many title wins,” says Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board responsible for Research and Development. Enzinger, who is Austrian, joined Porsche in 2011. He initially built up the successful LMP1 programme with the 919 Hybrid. Between 2014 and 2017, he scored three overall victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and also won six world championship titles. The Enzinger era is marked by these successes. Porsche also entered the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship under Enzinger’s leadership. “"I look back with pride and gratitude on what we have achieved together,” says Enzinger. He was succeeded by Thomas Laudenbach, who took over at the helm of Porsche Motorsport on 1 October. A chartered engineer, he has been with Porsche since 1998. Among other things, he has overseen motorsport drive development and has been involved in various motorsport and sports car projects.

The sum of 200,000 euros was raised through the first Porsche Virtual Run. The money was donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Porsche employees run and raise 200,000 euros
The sum of 200,000 euros was raised through the first Porsche Virtual Run. The money was donated to the international Make-A-Wish Foundation, which realises dreams for seriously ill children, young people and adolescents. The coronavirus restrictions meant the six-hour run traditionally held in Zuffenhausen could not take place. The Porsche Virtual Run expanded the field of starters. Runners were invited to rack up kilometres on actual racing circuits such as Le Mans (13.626 kilometres), the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife (20.83 kilometres) and even the Targa Florio (72 kilometres). In total, 2,300 Porsche employees around the world took part between mid-September and early October. A distance of 67,559 kilometres was run for a good cause. Porsche AG originally pledged to donate 50 cents per kilometre. But as so many employees took part, and with the needs of sick children and young people being so great, the company upped this to three euros per kilometre. Chairman of the Executive Board Oliver Blume: “Whether in Taiwan, Switzerland or Australia, our colleagues in more than 35 countries have drawn motivation from the numerous wishes. Many have gone the famous extra mile. True sportsmanship in the spirit of social responsibility.”