Porsche’s long-anticipated electric versions of the 718 Cayman and Boxster may never reach production, according to a new report that suggests a major strategic reversal under the company’s newly appointed chief executive. After years of development and the recent retirement of the gasoline-powered 718 lineup, the electric replacements now appear to be at risk before launch.
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Michael Leiters, who assumed the role of Porsche CEO on Jan. 1 after previously leading McLaren, is reportedly reassessing the future of the electric 718 program. Unnamed sources cited in the report indicate that escalating development costs and repeated delays have placed the project under scrutiny, with cancellation now being considered as an option.
The potential move comes as Porsche faces growing financial and strategic pressure. The company has recently stepped back from its earlier commitment to an electric-only future, a shift that coincided with a 26 percent decline in sales in China during 2025. That slowdown has added urgency to internal cost controls, particularly as electric vehicle programs demand heavy upfront investment.
Porsche’s retreat from its EV-first strategy has already had significant consequences. The change reportedly erased €1.8 billion, or about $2.1 billion, from operating profit last year. Additional strain has come from new U.S. tariffs, while ongoing market challenges resulted in Porsche being removed from Germany’s benchmark DAX stock index.
The electric Cayman and Boxster have been delayed multiple times. Earlier this year, Porsche acknowledged difficulties sourcing the high-performance battery cells required for the models, complications worsened by the bankruptcy of Swedish battery supplier Northvolt. Although sales were initially planned for this year, that timeline now appears unrealistic.
Further uncertainty surrounds the relevance of the cars if they are delayed again. Continued setbacks could mean that, even if launched, the electric 718 models would arrive already behind competitors in a fast-moving EV market.
In response to shifting realities, Porsche announced last September that future flagship 718 variants would retain internal combustion engines, including successors to the Cayman GT4, GT4 RS, and 718 Spyder RS. More recently, it emerged that combustion options could extend beyond limited halo models and into a broader portion of the 718 lineup.
Porsche has declined to comment on the report, calling it speculative. Still, the situation highlights growing tension between ambition and economics, and raises questions about whether the electric 718 was a vision ahead of its time or a costly misstep waiting to be erased.
https://www.carscoops.com/2026/02/porsche-electric-718-cancel-delay/
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