Porsche sold more electrified cars in Europe in 2025 than pure gas-powered cars • Hacker News Board

Re: Porsche sold more electrified cars in Europe in 2025 than pure gas-powered cars

#521

Post by gadiyar » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 2:35 PM UTC

kulahan wrote: post #47

qiqitori wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I keep seeing "underequipped technologically relative to their Chinese peers" on HN. What kind of stuff is missing? This is not a loaded question, I only drive a couple times a month, and the vehicle I'm driving is an older Prius, so I probably lack imagination. EVs are supposed to be technologically pretty simple, most of an EV's value being in the battery packs. I've been thinking about upgrading, perhaps to a Niss…

In terms of features I see on high end cars… (no clue if these are available in Chinese cars, just to help you get an idea of what exists) 1. Backup camera with lines that move as you turn the wheel 2. Camera setup that lets you see how close you are to curbs, other cars, etc. from a plethora of unexpected angles (you can get a top-down view of your car! Pretty cool.) 3. Automatic parking when parallel parking 4. “Re…

I have 1,2,6 and 8 plus part of 5 and 7 (remote lock, unlock, status and GPS tracking, heated and cooled seats) on my 4-year old Hyundai Tucson. Not expensive and a very good value for money car. Made in Alabama.

Re: Porsche sold more electrified cars in Europe in 2025 than pure gas-powered cars

#522

Post by anentropic » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 2:35 PM UTC

thinkingemote wrote: post #368

Electric cars are required by law to emit sound via a speaker for safety. Usually the sound is unique and somewhat electronic in nature. Some electric sports cars, and I'm not sure but Porsche may be one of them, have a loud deep bassy faux-sports engine sound emitting from the speaker. "VROOOOM VROOOOOM VROOOM!" - on an electric car. Does anyone else find this *extremely* weird? It's like a petrol car having a speak…

Yes, it's embarrassing

Re: Porsche sold more electrified cars in Europe in 2025 than pure gas-powered cars

#523

Post by randerson » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 2:36 PM UTC

prmoustache wrote: post #307

randerson wrote: post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wanted to replace my gas Macan with the new EV one. After a test drive I decided to just keep the gas one. As an EV it is excellent. But Porsche is known for engaging driver's cars, and without the visceral sounds and vibrations of an engine it is bland and boring. The flaws in a gas engine's power curve give it character. Letting the driver manage that power curve is fun. A perfectly linear sub-3s 0-60 with fake e…

The thing is, driving on the road is not supposed to be fun. One should go to a racetrack (or simulator) to have fun. Unless you live in a really remote and desertic place, there are just too much people on the road nowadays.

You can have plenty of fun without putting other drivers in danger. I used to drive a NA Miata that took 9 seconds to get to 60 mph and it was the most fun car I've ever owned. But I'm a slow-car-fast person.

Most people can safely wring out their cars in 1st and 2nd on a highway on-ramp, or from a traffic light on an empty 55 mph country road. I own a fun weekend car that I take out at dawn on a Saturday to carve up a mountain pass - which is fun even at the speed limit. In a lightweight sports car with excellent brakes, I am safer than all the trucks I see on these roads.

Re: Porsche sold more electrified cars in Europe in 2025 than pure gas-powered cars

#524

Post by bluGill » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 2:45 PM UTC

dredmorbius wrote: post #511

costcopizza wrote: post #463

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can 100% confidently say the average US buyer is not an auto enthusiast. Cars are appliances to the vast majority of people here. There are multiple other factors for the relatively low adoption of EVs compared to China.

Automobile buyers who buy American or European cars are more likely to be auto enthusiasts. Then there's the utility / practical / recreational crowd who goes for SUVs and pickup trucks. Those whose primary aim is utility are already in (non-EU) foreign markets or used. Those are invisible to new-car US/EU sales. It's a classic Innovators Dilemma dynamic (Clayton Christensen), where chasing higher-end market niches t…

In the US there isn't much choice. There are a few Japanese and Korean cars - but even those brands put effort into appealing to auto enthusiasts.

Remember, if you need a widget that you don't otherwise care about knowing someone who does care about them recommends something is a very important factor in your decision. The realistic difference between a car/suv of similar size between GM, Toyota, or VW (random choice of brands but covering the 3 geographical regions) is minimal: the non-enthusiast will be happy in any of them.

Re: Porsche sold more electrified cars in Europe in 2025 than pure gas-powered cars

#525

Post by thomas_witt » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 2:46 PM UTC

berm_ wrote: post #493

thomas_witt wrote: post #407

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being a customer for years, I have to politely disagree. Design is obviously a totally personal matter of taste, but as they have made many iconic shapes, apparently they're in the broad opinion not too bad at it. The main difference is driving. I have driven many cars in my life, from very cheap to very expensive. For me personally, Porsche is in my opinion comparable to using a Mac - they're one of the few who "get…

>Try driving 240+ km/h with any other large-volume-production car, you'll be sweaty. This is just very much not true, Audi, Mercedes,Toyota, BMW breeze through it, hell my friends audi S4 from 2004 regularly shoots 240+ over the autobahn, and we never break a sweat.

That is not my personal experience. I get very often those cars of those other major German brands at SIXT car rental, and of course this is my personal opinion:

- BMW is indeed very nice, I agree. I also once had a 6 series convertible which was - apart from the very low consumption (Diesel) - really nice to drive. Their cars are indeed a good alternative at a lower price point. - Audi is the utmost catastrophe. Apart from the abysmal navigation system, the car simply doesn't feel safe at higher speeds (had an A6, your mileage may vary with tuned S models). I didn't want to drive faster than 180km/h - Same goes for Mercedes (drove C, E and S Classes). The entertainment system is straight from the 90ies and the steering gets super wobbly at higher speeds. - Toyota - are you kidding me? Very reliable, good value, but nowhere near the driving capabilities of a BMW or Porsche.

Of course they are all nice cars and should do the job, especially in countries with speed limits - until 120 km/h that all doesn't matter. I'm just saying, if you really want (and can) go fast, most of those cars don't deliver in my opinion.

Re: Porsche sold more electrified cars in Europe in 2025 than pure gas-powered cars

#526

Post by thomas_witt » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 2:46 PM UTC

0xcafecafe wrote: post #471

thomas_witt wrote: post #407

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being a customer for years, I have to politely disagree. Design is obviously a totally personal matter of taste, but as they have made many iconic shapes, apparently they're in the broad opinion not too bad at it. The main difference is driving. I have driven many cars in my life, from very cheap to very expensive. For me personally, Porsche is in my opinion comparable to using a Mac - they're one of the few who "get…

That is interesting. Thanks for sharing I was interested in trying out a Porsche. Do the oil changes and other maintenance items cost significantly more than other makers?

Not really, I usually don't carry them out at Porsche itself, only the regular inspections.

Re: Porsche sold more electrified cars in Europe in 2025 than pure gas-powered cars

#527

Post by bluGill » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 2:47 PM UTC

bluedino wrote: post #519

projektfu wrote: post #504

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like manual transmissions but I think DCTs are an improvement for the average car. They seem to have a lot less "hunting" than the typical torque-converter automatic and good precision for the driving conditions. It is easy to put them into a manual-select mode. And, of course, they don't seem to stall.

The manual transmission crowd cannot be convinced. Even when you show them the performance advantages etc. They just want 'fun' and 'engaging', however they define that.

I've driven both. I don't know how to define what I feel, but the true clutch is more "fun and engaging". I still went with a EV because it is the right choice, but I want the ICE with manual and if money was limitless I'd have a collection (plus a personal mechanic to keep them all running)

Re: Porsche sold more electrified cars in Europe in 2025 than pure gas-powered cars

#528

Post by slowmotiony » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 2:49 PM UTC

0xcafecafe wrote: post #471

thomas_witt wrote: post #407

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being a customer for years, I have to politely disagree. Design is obviously a totally personal matter of taste, but as they have made many iconic shapes, apparently they're in the broad opinion not too bad at it. The main difference is driving. I have driven many cars in my life, from very cheap to very expensive. For me personally, Porsche is in my opinion comparable to using a Mac - they're one of the few who "get…

That is interesting. Thanks for sharing I was interested in trying out a Porsche. Do the oil changes and other maintenance items cost significantly more than other makers?

Unfortunately yes, my Porsche Cayman's service is usually at least twice that of my wife's BMW 4 series.

Re: Porsche sold more electrified cars in Europe in 2025 than pure gas-powered cars

#529

Post by dv_dt » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 2:49 PM UTC

melenaboija wrote: post #166

bnchrch wrote: post #2

While the headline is interesting. I think the table at the end of the article is more so. - Worldwide sales -10% YoY - China sales -26% YoY And when you cross compare Porsche saying they sold more EV powertrains than their gas equivalents against China's new found foothold as the market leader in consumer electric cars (BYD, NIO, Xiaomi, etc...) Then I think you see an early indication not just of electric car domin…

> Then I think you see an early indication not just of electric car dominance, but of the (very potential) rise of China as the premier automotive super power. It’s done man. Americans are stuck in ICE engines because they’ve been told they’re “car enthusiasts” while the Chinese have been developing EV technology for years. Meanwhile, European makers are stuck not knowing what to do, make Americans happy or compete w…

Are you talking about ICE car enthusiasts only? For general car modders and enthusiasts, it may take a few more generations of production releases before more crop up, but I think more EV car enthusiasts will emerge after more and lower cost EV powered systems come out from factory systems optimized for higher volume. With that sheer amount of gear accessible over time, custom makers and mod products will find ways to modify and reassemble it.

Re: Porsche sold more electrified cars in Europe in 2025 than pure gas-powered cars

#530

Post by internet_points » Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 2:50 PM UTC

thinkingemote wrote: post #368

Electric cars are required by law to emit sound via a speaker for safety. Usually the sound is unique and somewhat electronic in nature. Some electric sports cars, and I'm not sure but Porsche may be one of them, have a loud deep bassy faux-sports engine sound emitting from the speaker. "VROOOOM VROOOOOM VROOOM!" - on an electric car. Does anyone else find this *extremely* weird? It's like a petrol car having a speak…

Yes.

Is there a difference in EU vs US regulation?