Here’s what we know about Porsche’s first electric SUV, the 2024 Macan
Porsche is set to unveil its first fully electric SUV in 2024, the Macan EV, which will be “the sportiest model in its segment,” according to the automaker. Although Porsche is pushing its release back another year, the company is finally giving us the details of what we can expect from the long-awaited Macan EV.
Despite initial hesitancy in going all in on electric with concerns over performance, the German automaker is not looking back.
It all started with the release of the electric Taycan, which has been a wild success for Porsche, with the company producing its 100,000th model last week.
Porsche’s first electric model even outsold the iconic Porsche 911 last year, with over 41,000 deliveries. Kevin Giek, VP of Model Line Taycan, stated:
With the Taycan, we have made a decidedly successful start in the electric age.
However, Porsche doesn’t plan to let the momentum slow. The automaker plans to build on its success following up with the Macan EV in 2024. In fact, according to reports in August, Porsche expects the output of its electric Macan to reach the same, if not more, than its gas-powered counterpart.
With Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume at the helm, Porsche expects at least half of total sales to come from electric vehicles by 2025, which will quickly ramp to 80% by 2030.
The Porsche Macan EV launching in 2024 will likely play a key role in getting the German automaker there. Here’s what we know so far about Porche’s first all-electric SUV.
Porsche releases details on 2024 Macan EV
The Macan EV will be the first Porsche model to sit on its upcoming Premium Platform Electric (PPE), its dedicated electric vehicle platform co-developed with Audi.
The PPE EV platform is set to use an 800V electrical system, while Porsche will utilize 100 kWh battery packs. According to the company, this is the ideal size for superior range and performance.
Porsche also says it’s planning to further improve charging speeds (over the Taycan’s 270 kW) with a target recharge rate from 5% to 80% in less than 25 minutes.
The German automaker’s PPE platform will be designed for both rear and all-wheel drive systems. Two liquid-cooled motors will produce up to 603 hp and 738 lb.-ft. of torque. Porsche will also be swapping silicon semiconductors with silicon carbide, which is better suited for higher-power models.
The rear motor will be mounted behind the rear axle, like the 911, in what Porsche calls its Performance Rear Axle. The approach gives the Macan EV a better weight balance of 48 to 52% front to rear.
Deliveries of the Macan EV are slated for 2024, with Porsche targeting an official release in either late 2023 or 2024 as it finalizes tuning.
Electrek’s Take
I wouldn’t doubt the Macan EV to be the “sportiest model in its segment” with Porsche’s performance history.
The Macan EV will make an excellent addition to the Porsche Taycan, giving it the market potential it needs to achieve its electric sales targets. Although Porche’s fully electric SUV is getting pushed back until 2024, I expect an aggressive rollout.
Look for Porsche to build on the success it established with the Taycan with the Macan EV in 2024.
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Tesla has started to offer discounted financing on Cybertruck as the electric pickup truck undoubtedly turns out to be a flop.
Tesla claimed over 1 million reservations for the Cybertruck, and CEO Elon Musk said he could see Tesla producing 500,000 units per year.
However, that was before Tesla announced that the production version would be much more expensive and have a shorter range than what was initially announced.
The Cybertruck has now been in production for a year and a half, and it looks like Tesla would be lucky to sell about 10% of Musk’s goal of 500,000 units.
The automaker doesn’t report Cybertruck sales, but it is estimated that Tesla delivered roughly 40,000 Cybertrucks in 2024, and it is expected to have even more issues selling the truck this year.
Tesla has taken several steps to help sales.
We reported that Tesla launched Cybertruck leases to help move vehicles. The company is even still tucked with “Foundations Series” Cybertrucks, and we found out that Tesla buffed “Foundations Series” badges out of some trucks to sell them as cheaper regular Cybertrucks.
For the remaining “Foundations Series,” which there still are despite Tesla switching to regular Cybertruck production in October, Tesla has even offered free Supercharging for life.
Now, Tesla is stepping up its game, and it is offering discounted financing on new Cybertruck orders:
Tesla announced 1.99% APR for a limited time:
1.99% APR available for a limited time for well-qualified buyers
WIthout the “promotion”, the rate for excellent credit is 5.84%.
While Tesla is discounting the rates, it is not discounting them as much as for new Model 3 orders.
We reported earlier this week that Tesla offers 0% and 0.99% with $0 down on new Model 3 orders in the US until the end of the quarter.
Electrek’s Take
It is very possible that Tesla can’t sell more than 10,000 Cybertrucks this quarter, which would extrapolate to 40,000 units per year or less than 10% of what Elon said he would see Tesla delivering.
Now, the cheaper single motor Cybertruck should help, but by how much? It could bring Tesla to 20-30% of the volume Elon saw possible?
I think it’s fairly clear that the Cybertruck is a flop.
Tesla launched a single new vehicle in the last 5 years and it is a flop.
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Environment
Toyota launched its cheapest EV in China and it crashed the server starting at just $15,000
Toyota looks to grab a bigger share of the world’s largest EV market as it takes aim at BYD and other low-cost leaders. On Thursday, Toyota launched its cheapest EV in China, the bZ3X, starting at roughly $15,000. The new electric SUV crashed the server with over 10,000 orders in an hour.
Meet Toyota’s cheapest EV in China, the bZ3X
The bz3X is Toyota’s “first 100,000 yuan-level pure electric SUV” in China and its cheapest EV to hit the market so far.
Toyota’s Chinese joint venture, GAC-Toyota officially launched the “Bozhi 3X,” or bZ3X for short, in China on March 6. Shortly after, the company said orders for its new electric SUV were “so popular that the server crashed” after revealing prices start at just over $15,000 (109,800 yuan).
After securing over 10,000 orders in just one hour, Toyota boasted again that “the server is overwhelmed.” The launch comes after blind pre-orders opened in December, starting at just under $14,000 (100,000 yuan).
The bZ3X is available in two versions, with or without its full-scenario smart driving tech. The non-smart tech model starts at 109,800 yuan ($15,000) with five trim options while the smart driving model starts at 149,800 yuan ($20,500).
For 159,800 yuan ($22,000), the range-topping “610 Max” trim provides up to 610 km (379 miles) CLTC range from a 67.92 kWh LFP battery. The base “430 Air” gets up to 430 km (267 miles) from a 50.03 kWh LFP battery pack.
Toyota said the interior provides “a mobile space that is comfortable as home,” with front and rear seats that can fold down to provide nearly 10 feet (3 meters) of space.
Inside, the electric SUV has a 14.6″ infotainment screen with voice recognition and an 8.8″ driver display. It also includes a two-spoke multi-function steering wheel.
Toyota’s new bZ3X is its first vehicle with the Momenta 5.0 Intelligent Driving System. Powered by NVIDIA Drive AGX Orin X, it comes with 25 ADAS features, such as parallel parking, remote control parking, high-speed pilot, light traffic assist, and blind spot monitoring.
GAC-Toyota claimed it will be “one of the first automakers in the world to realize a one-stage end-to-end intelligent driving model.” With human-like intelligence, the vehicle “gets smarter and better with use.”
At 4,600 mm long, 1,875 mm wide, and 1,645 mm tall, Toyota’s cheapest EV in China is about the size of BYD’s Yuan Plus (Atto 3) at 4,455 mm long, 1,875 mm wide, and 1,615 mm tall. Starting at 115,800 yuan ($16,000), Toyota’s new bZ3X slightly undercuts BYD’s electric SUV.
What do you think of Toyota’s new electric SUV? Would you buy one for around $15,000? We’ll keep dreaming.
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