More than a year ago we told you that the Electric Macan was “nearly here”. The lie detector test determined that was a lie. We didn’t know it was a lie back then, of course. We assumed that the car was going to be ready for prime time late in 2022 for an early 2023 delivery. As with pretty much every new car of the last two years, for one reason or another, substantial delays have occurred.
This delay in Volkswagen Group’s EV plans were written as reason for dismissal on former CEO Herbert Deiss’ walking papers. This badly bungled software from the group’s programming division Cariad has cost VW AG hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue, and delayed its most significant investment in electric vehicles. The delays on this “E3 1.2” software platform will have ripple effects for a very long time, as it may also cause delays in the delivery of Porsche’s 718 EVs, as well as the upcoming electric Cayenne, not to mention the scad of next-gen Audi electric machines.
A report from Forbes indicates that Porsche being picky might be part of the reason for delays in E3 1.2. Porsche boss Oliver Blume and Audi boss Markus Duesmann are committed to co-developing the software stack, but each automaker wants its own feel to the user interface, understandably so. That said, using the same software to do different things is apparently cause for delay and at least some concern.
Now that Blume has taken over as CEO of Volkswagen Group, he has the ultimate say over pretty much anyone else, so he’s working to accelerate EV development within the group, and that means pushing the software through ASAP. It’s too late already in 2022 to be able to secure deliveries in 2023, however, so Porsche is kicking that can out another year right now. If you’ve already placed a deposit or tentative order with your dealer, you’re going to be waiting just a bit longer.
When the Macan EV does arrive in 2024, it’s coming with a next-gen 800-volt architecture and more range than the Taycan delivers now. Porsche will surely be able to sell every single one it builds, so the sooner these arrive, the better. The gasoline Macan, which is built on a different platform and won’t share many parts at all, will continue to be sold even after the electric version drops.