Toby Venter, the CEO of Porsche South Africa, says that he believes diesel “will come back strongly”, despite the fact that the automaker currently offers no oil-burners.
Venter, who heads up LSM Distributors (the official distributor of the Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini brands in South Africa), made the comments while addressing the media at the recent launch of the third-generation Cayenne in Cape Town.
“I believe that diesel will come back strongly,” Venter said, before confirming that the local Cayenne range – which currently comprises four derivatives (three petrols and a hybrid-petrol) – will eventually be expanded with the addition of a diesel variant.
The facelifted Macan range, too, would eventually gain the option of an oil-burner, he said.
“There is no demand for diesel in Europe,” Venter said, making reference to the fallout from the Volkswagen Group’s diesel emissions scandal, before adding that “we don’t have a backlash against diesel here in South Africa”.
“Porsche has recognised that there is a demand outside of Europe,” Venter went on to say.
In February 2018, Porsche denied reports that it had completely ditched diesel, saying that it had merely “adapted its product planning”.
“This decision means that Porsche currently does not offer any vehicles with diesel engines. However, it does not mean a diesel exit at Porsche,” a spokesperson for the brand said at the time.
