This is why Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman were killed in Europe

With electric successors on the horizon, Porsche has discontinued production of its 718 Boxster and Cayman models in Europe, leaving ICE-obsessed EU buyers with even fewer options than before. However, the reason for their death is not because of their power. Rather, it’s because these vehicles, like their sibling the Macan, do not comply with upcoming cybersecurity regulations in the European Union.

In the case of the Macan, Porsche said it would be too expensive to update the vehicle to meet the requirements, and the same is true for the Boxster and Cayman. but, car buzz We have reached out to the automaker for additional information on this matter.

Updating old models is too expensive

This was announced by Porsche spokesperson Oliver Hilger. motor 1 Both models will be discontinued in this region. But there’s still hope for 718 fans, as the automaker has extended a lifeline to the desirable GT4 RS and Boxster RS ​​Spyder.

These vehicles will be exempt from the new regulations as Porsche will produce them in limited numbers. Updating mainstream models is prohibitively expensive, with the update cost estimated to be half of the new Boxster EV’s development budget.

Sales are strong, but there’s no way Porsche can justify spending that much money on a model that’s nearing the end of its lifespan. As with the Macan, European customers will have to choose his all-electric version, which will arrive in 2025.

Boxster and Cayman still offered elsewhere

Fortunately, the Boxster and Cayman will continue to be sold in other regions, including the United States. Even if an all-electric successor arrives, the petrol-powered Boxster will continue to soldier on, catering to customers who aren’t ready to give up on internal combustion engines. It’s the same story with the Macan, which will be sold alongside the electric Contemporary for some time.

The discontinuation of the 718 is not a big deal (in terms of sales). Last year, the 718 Twin was his second-worst selling in the United States, with 4,526 units sold in all of 2023. Compare this to his 26,947 units of the Macan and you can see why this is a problem for Porsche in Europe. At least when it comes to the Macan, the Macan EV and cheaper Cayenne models could regain some headroom.

Returning to the Boxster and Cayman, all stock must be sold by July 1st, so there’s a good chance buyers can get a bargain on a pre-configured model. After that, unsold vehicles are not eligible for registration.

What has changed in the Cybersecurity Act?

The cybersecurity law in question is not specifically an EU law, but a United Nations regulation aimed at protecting connected cars from hackers. Announced in June 2020. According to the United Nations, he had to implement measures across four areas:

• Managing vehicle cyber risks.

• Protect vehicles by design to reduce risks along the value chain.

• Detect and respond to security incidents across your fleet.

• Introduces a legal basis for so-called “over-the-air” (OTA) updates of vehicle software by providing safe and secure software updates and ensuring vehicle safety is not compromised.

Fifty-four countries, including South Korea and Japan, have signed the agreement, but the United States is not among them, explaining why the Macan and 718 sports car can continue to be sold in the United States. The deadline for existing vehicles to implement cybersecurity updates is July 2024. The full text of the regulation can be read here.