Porsche on Mission E

Porsche’s Mission E concept car made its debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show back in September and had visitors enamoured. It featured impressive, though imaginary, numbers: standstill to 62mph in less than 3.5 seconds and 600hp channeled to all four wheels. Although these stats fall short of Tesla’s Ludicrous Mode, Porsche boasts a longer range of 310 miles (Tesla’s most “long-lasting” model can manage 286 miles) and better charging. Tesla’s Supercharger takes 30 minutes to give the car about 170 miles worth of juice, but Porsche’s concept car can recharge its battery to 80% or around 250 miles in just 15 minutes, by using an 800-volt charger. Tesla Motors could soon lose its superstar image in the electric vehicle arena.

Mission E could just as well stand for Mission Extraordinary as Porsche gets started on its electric vehicle project. The automaker will be investing EUR700 million at the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen site where more than 1000 new jobs will be created. In the years to come, it will see a new assembly plant and paint shop built, while the existing engine factory and body shop will be expanded to accommodate the electric vehicle production.

"This heralds the dawn of a new age in Zuffenhausen and Weissach", said Uwe Huck, Deputy Chairman of the Porsche AG Supervisory Board. "Digitization will be growing up with us. And Factory 4.0 will be a major challenge for the workforce, trade union and employer. We will be taking new approaches but not giving up on the social aspects. With today's decision, Porsche is driving flat out with no speed restrictions into the automotive and industrial future."