Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany, set new sales and turnover records in the previous 2006/07 fiscal year (July 31), in spite of the sporty Cayenne SUV model change. As the Group announced in Frankfurt at the International Motor Show (IAA) on Tuesday, provisional figures show a rise in Porsche Group sales to 97,515 vehicles (Previous year: 96,794 units). This represents a 0.7-percent increase. At the same time, turnover rose by 3.4 percent to 7.4 billion Euros. The previous year – excluding turnover of CTS Car Top Systems GmbH – it stood at 7.1 billion Euros. A further improvement in product mix was the main driver of this growth.
With an increase of 8.8 percent to 37,415 vehicles (previous year: 34,386), the 911 set its own record, making it the Group's most successful model line in the year under review. The 911 GT3 and the 911 Targa contributed to this success, as of course did the new 911 Turbo, which saw its first full fiscal year on the market.
The sporty Cayenne SUV’s progress was particularly gratifying, considering the model change it underwent during the previous fiscal year. While production of the first generation was phased out in November 2006, the launch of the new Cayenne to the markets started by the end of February 2007. Although that meant three months in which the vehicle was unavailable, at 33,943 units, overall sales were roughly equal to those of the previous year (34,134 vehicles). This bears out the outstanding response the Cayenne has received from customers.
In the hotly contested roaster segment, which in some markets even saw sales figures fall, the Boxster series stood its ground. The Cayman was able to compensate to a large extent for the decline in the Boxster, although the 26,146 units sold still didn’t quite match the 27,906 vehicles of the previous year. Porsche sales also included two RS Spyder models: in 2006, the Group decided to make this million-Euro race car for the American LMP2 series available to other customer teams.
The renewed increase in sales in the year under review was achieved in spite of tougher competition on the international markets, which showed different developments. The manufacturer of sporty premium cars saw, for example, its North-American sales drop by 10.3 percent to 33,576 vehicles, having sold 37,431 units the previous year. Nevertheless, Porsche stuck unwaveringly to its policy of no discounts. In Germany, the Group sales rose by 2.8 percent to 14,314 vehicles (previous year: 13,921). Outside the two biggest individual markets, Stuttgart-based Porsche saw a 9.2-percent rise in sales to 49,625 units (previous year: 45,442). This upward trend was powered first and foremost by new markets such as China and Russia.
In total, 101,844 vehicles were produced, nearly equalling the previous year’s 102,602. 38,959 911 models rolled off the production line in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, which is 6.7 percent more than the previous year. The Boxster/Cayman series, which owing to the great demand for 911s was solely assembled in Finland, totaled 26,712 units, after 30,680 such vehicles had been produced the previous year. The plant in Leipzig produced 36,169 Cayenne models, which represented a 3.0-percent rise. Porsche also produced four LMP2 race vehicles.
Looking at the current 2007/08 fiscal year, Porsche is confident it will match the records set the previous year, despite sustained discount wars on the most important markets. Key factors in the Group’s success will include the extension of its sales network in the new markets and the expansion of the product range to include the 911 GT2 and the Cayenne GTS. Porsche doesn’t anticipate another major step in growth, however, until the market launch of the four-door, four-seat Gran Turismo Panamera in 2009. As announced by Porsche, the Group’s progress until then shall be marked by consolidation on a high level.
