Macan Electric to keep unique position, not threatened by Cayenne EV

Jorg Kerner, vice president of product line for Porsche Macan, poses during an interview in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday, on the sidelines of Seoul Mobility Show 2025. Courtesy of Porsche Korea

GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province — Porsche Korea's Macan Electric will maintain its distinct position and not overlap with the upcoming electric version of the flagship Cayenne SUV, according to Jorg Kerner, vice president of product line for Porsche Macan, in an interview.

The Macan is undeniably one of the best-selling SUVs worldwide for the German luxury automaker. However, in Korea, the larger Cayenne has consistently been more popular than the Macan.

The Porsche executive expressed confidence that the Macan will solidify its position in the electric vehicle (EV) market, even after the launch of the Cayenne Electric, which could come in the next couple of years.

“The Macan Electric’s positioning will not overlap with the upcoming electrified Cayenne,” Kerner said during the interview on the sidelines of the Seoul Mobility Show Thursday.

“Customers who display a preference for a compact size will opt for the Macan Electric,” he said. “I am confident that demand for the Macan Electric will not fall behind that from the all-electric Cayenne.”

According to data from Porsche Korea, sales of the Macan with an internal combustion engine totaled 259 units last year, while the Cayenne sold 3,584 units during the same period.

However, the sales outlook for the Macan Electric this year appears more promising. From February to March, 218 units of the Macan Electric were sold. If the current sales momentum continues, it's expected sales will soon surpass last year's total.

When asked about potential competition from other luxury EV brands with strong demand among Korean customers, such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Tesla, Kerner said that Porsche prioritizes expanding word-of-mouth marketing to counter the challenges posed by its rivals.

“We respect our rival models. One of our core strategies (to boost our sales) is to enable as many customers as possible to actually drive our vehicles,” he said. “This creates a word-of-mouth effect and builds a virtuous cycle for our sales. The key for us to absorb potential customers away from our rivals lies in how to widen experiences for them.”

The executive did not reveal a specific sales target for the Macan Electric but emphasized that the electric model embodies Porsche's core identity, featuring sports car-like handling and rapid acceleration. The EV can travel up to 474 kilometers on a single charge.