Porsche AG announced that it delivered 256,255 vehicles worldwide in 2018. China was the biggest market, taking 80,108 units: a rise of 12% year on year. European sales fell 4% to 77,216 cars, with Germany taking roughly a third of that total. The single-market USA was behind Europe and substantially lower than China at just 57,000 cars in total.

The record number of total deliveries represents a growth of four per cent compared to the (record) figures for 2017. Panamera recorded the highest percentage growth, up 38% to 38,443 deliveries. The 911 (991) also recorded a double-digit rise: up 10% to 35,573 vehicles. Deliveries of the new car timed to coincide with the start of the year should see a rise for the 911 through 2019.

The 911, Panamera and 718 Boxster/Cayman are obviously small fry in the great scheme of things. Macan alone sold more than both 911 and Panamera combined, at 86,031 units delivered, while Cayenne deliveries totalled 71,458. Macan and Cayenne combined is 157,489 or 61% of total output. All four total 231,505, leaving 24750 units: presumably all Boxster/Cayman.

UK new car sales landscape

The UK new car market fell 6.8% through 2018, to 2.37 million cars in total. Diesel cars continue to decline in percentage down from 42% in 2017 to 31.7% in 2018. This shift was largely attributable to the Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal, which also involved Porsche and Audi models. As diesel sales fall, total CO2 emissions from the UK new car market have now risen for the second year in succession. The shift away from diesel is having a big effect.

“Diesels are, on average, 15-20% more efficient than petrol equivalents and so have a substantial role to play in addressing climate change,” said the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. “The hard won gains made by the sector since CO2 records began in 1997 are being undermined by the shift away from diesel and disappointing growth in alternatively fuelled vehicles. This only underscores the challenge both industry and government face in meeting ambitious climate change targets.”

Porsche’s green credentials under the microscope

“The switch to the new WLTP test cycle and gasoline particle filters in Europe mean that we faced significant challenges in the fourth quarter of 2018, and these will continue to be felt in the first half of 2019,” said Detlev von Platen, Porsche Sales and Marketing chief.

Porsche cancelled all new orders of diesel models during 2018, so we will see how this plays out in deliveries of Macan, Cayenne and Panamera during 2019. The incoming Taycan electric vehicle range later this year will not have a huge effect on the manufacturer’s overall environmental impact, with another production line added and the workforce now twice what it was in 2012.