Porsche Pays Audi $1B for Thermal Macan Platform

Porsche is dropping a billion euros on Audi to save the future thermal Macan. The Stuttgart manufacturer is banking on the Q5 platform to design its new gasoline SUV, expected in 2028. Michael Leiters, Porsche's CEO, promises it will be a "real Porsche" and not just a rebadged knockoff.

"We need to ensure this is a real Porsche. And that requires content, product substance, new technologies on this car" — Michael Leiters, Porsche CEO

The thermal Macan is officially bowing out by mid-2026. After leaving the European market in July 2024 for failing new cybersecurity standards GSR2, the compact SUV will stop production worldwide. Stuttgart's brand is left with a gaping hole in its lineup, especially since the electric replacement isn't filling the void left by this bestseller.

Faced with this critical situation, Porsche broke out the checkbook. The Audi deal represents a billion euros in licensing rights—a particularly steep bill that underscores how urgent things are. This cash lets Porsche use Audi's PPC platform (Premium Platform Combustion) from the new Q5 to develop its future thermal SUV.

A Billion Euros to Fix a Strategic Blunder

Oliver Blume, former Porsche CEO and current Volkswagen group boss, admitted it in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: "We got it wrong with the Macan." The strategy of immediately replacing the gas model with an electric version proved premature.

The numbers tell the story. In 2023, the thermal Macan was Porsche's second-best selling model with 87,355 units sold—only 198 fewer than the Cayenne. In the United States, where it still sells, it accounted for 78% of the model's global sales before its European discontinuation.

New boss Michael Leiters inherited this delicate situation. During an investor Q&A session, he had to explain why development would take so long when the Q5's technical foundation already exists.

"A Real Porsche," Not a Rebadged Q5

Customer concerns are justified. Shelling out between 70,000 and 100,000 euros for "an Audi with a different badge" isn't usually on Stuttgart buyers' wish lists. Michael Leiters gets it and hammers home that his team "won't settle for just slapping a Porsche crest on an Audi body."

This promise comes with a price tag. Engineers in Weissach are working on deep modifications to the PPC platform to inject Porsche DNA into it. Custom chassis, suspension tuning, engine calibration, unique design—everything needs rethinking to justify the sports manufacturer's badge.

The billion-euro bill isn't just for this one model anyway. According to Leiters, this licensing agreement covers other future Porsche-Audi projects too, which helps put the investment in perspective over the long haul.

When Will This New Thermal SUV Arrive?

The timeline is clear: 2028 for market launch. That leaves a two-year gap after the Macan's final thermal bow in 2026. Until then, only the electric Macan will fill the slot—a situation that could push some customers toward competitors.

This delay reflects the project's complexity. Even starting from an existing base, adapting the Audi platform to Porsche standards takes time. Teams need to integrate the brand's specific electronic management systems and develop suitable powertrains.

The future SUV won't carry the Macan name—that's now reserved for the electric version. Instead, it'll slot in as a thermal entry-level SUV, occupying the same market space as the old Macan without reusing its name.

Chinese Competition Is Pushing Porsche to Act

This urgency also stems from new players entering the premium market. The Xiaomi YU7 GT, for instance, has clear ambitions with its 990 horsepower and openly targets the Macan. With an announced range of 705 km on the CLTC cycle and a likely much lower price, this type of model worries Stuttgart.

China is a crucial market for Porsche, but sales there dropped 28% in 2024. The absence of a thermal Macan in regions where electric power still struggles is a serious commercial handicap.