VW Group is investigating all sorts of ways to reduce cost. Fewer models is a simple first step. The increasing tumult of the current era of the automotive industry means even the biggest players are being hit with significant challenges. An ongoing sales slide and lasting issues with profitability have required Volkswagen Group executives to take a bold rethink of operations.
While we’ve already reported on the potential for six-figure job cuts and factory shutdowns, CEO Oliver Blume has begun to clarify his views on cutting back on individual models—and unfortunately for Porsche fans, a new report claims that list might include some fan favorites. As tensions continue to mount between VW’s supervisory and management boards over the specifics of upcoming layoffs, Blume has started to move away from full-blown closures, instead highlighting the importance of reducing cost within the domestic production facilities.
View Price on AmazonThe CEO told German newspaper BILD that the company has already managed to cut factory-related costs by an average of 20 percent; getting that number down even more is a main goal for increasing profitability. "Our products are very popular—we just don't make enough money from them,” Blume told BILD. “That is why we have to cut costs further—across the board.”
Porsche’s recent struggles with profitability aren’t a secret; the automaker’s operating profits were down 99 percent in 2025. Therefore, it's little surprise that the carmaker is potentially included in the upcoming cull. According to the BILD report, models like the Taycan, the Cayenne Coupé, and the combustion-powered 718 Boxster / Cayman successor are all in danger of being eliminated.
The stronger-selling 911 might not be getting away scot-free, either. The rear-engined icon certainly isn't going away, but according to Automotive News, the brand may look at reducing the overall number of variants on the order sheet. There are literally dozens of different 911 models and configurations, all of which require capital expenditure for development and validation. Eliminating some of those models could save cash without upsetting the die-hard customer base too deeply.
"In the future, we want to increase sales volume per model,” Blume told BILD. “To achieve this, we are systematically streamlining our product portfolio." Porsche wouldn’t be alone in this adjustment. VW, Škoda, Cupra, and Seat could all lose out on planned successors to the Jetta, Taos, Fabia, and Raval models, according to the new report. Audi, too, will possibly see model cuts, with BILD reporting that the Q6 E-tron Sportback and Q5 Sportback are set for the guillotine.
Source: roadandtrack.com
