Porsche worldwide sales up 21 percent in first quarter

(April 9, 2013) ATLANTA — The German sports cars from Zuffenhausen and Leipzig are coveted in 2013 — again. In the first three months, Porsche reports delivering 37,009 vehicles to customers the world over, an increase of 21.1 percent compared to the same period last year. In March, the sports car manufacturer achieved over 14,000 deliveries for the first time in its company history.

“The success of the first quarter encourages us to implement our Strategy 2018 systematically,” said Bernhard Maier, member of the Executive Board Sales and Marketing. “Our responses to the uncertainties on the market are products that induce great enthusiasm in customers, such as the new Panamera as well as a highly motivated workforce.”

Porsche registered a heightened customer interest in the rear-engine and mid-engine models on the Chinese market. One third more Boxster, Cayman and 911 vehicles were delivered in the first quarter of 2013. Porsche sold 8,844 cars in China during this period, an increase by one fourth in comparison to the first quarter of 2012.

At the end of the month, the new generation of the Panamera — with which Porsche launches the first plug-in hybrid worldwide in the luxury class — will have its world premiere at the Auto China in Shanghai, which opens on April 21.

The demand for the 911 continues unabated — from January through March, Porsche delivered 7,230 models of the sports car icon, an increase of 18.6 percent compared to the first three months of the previous year. The Cayenne also continued to expand its market position. Around 20,000 vehicles of the sporty SUV have been handed over to customers so far this year.