Porsche Mission E Is A Go

Porsche Mission E concept (Credit: Porsche )

Porsche just made it official, announcing that the Mission E all-electric concept vehicle has been given the green light for production. Naturally, most media outlets, both mainstream and automotive, loudly and proudly declared that the Germans are going to unleash a “Tesla fighter.”

The reality is that this news doesn’t necessarily mean trouble for Tesla or a showdown between Silicon Valley and Stuttgart. Instead, it demonstrates that electric cars are actually going to transition into something people can really make money selling, which is great news for everyone, including Tesla.

More interesting than this supposed faceoff storyline is the fact that Porsche is looking to pour big money into the Mission E project. The company announced it’s investing about 700 million euros in its operations in Stuttgart to build a new assembly plant and paint shop, while the engine factory is being expanded so electric motors can be added to the mix. The body shop is also growing, showing that Porsche expects this new all-electric car to be pretty popular.

Porsche Mission E concept (Credit: Porsche )

We’ve seen the concept, but the vehicle that will start rolling off assembly lines before the end of the decade could be a horse of a different color, or appearance. It’s a safe bet that the four-door layout will remain, but it might not look so 911-ish in its profile, because that aesthetic is sacred ground for the brand.

Porsche has a history of using concept vehicles to explore new technologies and design aesthetics for two completely different production models. In other words, the car could look quite a bit different once it’s ready for consumers, but it should still be powerful and engaging to drive.

The big motivation for this new move was summed up nicely by Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, who is Porsche’s chair of the board. He said the Mission E makes “a clear statement about the future of the brand.” In other words, Porsche will not go gentle into that good night as all-electric drivetrains and autonomous technologies become more prominent. If anything, Porsche is embracing the change more than almost anyone else, at least for now.