Who Owns Porsche And Where Are The Cars Built?
Professor Ferdinand Porsche didn't set out to design and build cars. Initially, he was commissioned to craft engine parts and took his first order in 1930. It was actually Ferdinand's son, Ferry, who pushed the company into manufacturing their first car, the 356, in 1948. Considering Porsche will turn a century old in 2031, and is one of the most iconic automotive brands worldwide, you can imagine how special that first car must have been.
Today, Porsche is owned by the Volkswagen Group AG, which controls 75 percent of Porsche AG. However, Porsche SE owns the majority of shares for Volkswagen Group AG, and Porsche SE is run by the Porsche and Piëch families.
In terms of where these luxury sports cars are built, it depends on the model, with facilities in Germany, Slovakia, and Malaysia. The 911, 718 Cayman, 718 Boxster, and Taycan are manufactured in Zuffenhausen, Germany, while the Panamera and Macan are made in the Leipzig, Germany, plant that opened in 2000. (We actually got some time in the driver's seat with our 2024 Porsche Panamera Review and marveled at both the luxury and the price tag.) The Cayenne is made in two different locations: the model for everyone outside of Malaysia comes from Bratislava, Slovakia, while a separate Cayenne is constructed in Malaysia for the local market only.
Is the Porsche family still involved in the day-to-day business?
A lot of changes can happen over nearly 100 years, but the Porsche family is still active in running the business. However, they share ownership with the Piëch family after Louise Porsche (Ferdinand's daughter) married Anton Piëch. In the early 70s, Porsche was converted into a public limited company, which includes a board of directors. While the board members aren't related to the family, another leadership board comprised exclusively of Porsche relatives was formed alongside it to ensure the founding family still has a voice in the company.
There are also actions the family made many years prior, which have had a lasting and continuing impact on the company, including the development of some of the most iconic Porsches in racing history. For example, Ferry's son Ferdinand was instrumental in the creation of the 901, which led to one of the most legendary sports cars in history, the 911. Porsche has kept the 911 alive through evolution all these years after its mid-60s introduction.
In 2022, the Porsche family sought to get back more control over the company from Volkswagen by going forward with one of the region's most significant initial public offerings (IPO). Fortunately for the Porsche and Piëch family, the IPO enabled them to retake direct control of the famous automotive brand.