Introduction:
Porsche enthusiasts in the European Union have bid farewell to the iconic 718 Boxster and Cayman as the entry-level sports cars are officially discontinued due to the upcoming cybersecurity regulations set to take effect in July 2024. Although the departure is limited to the EU, the cars will still be available in other markets, with plans for the next-generation 718 to be purely electric when it launches in 2025.
Pour one out for the 718 because the beloved entry-level sports cars from Porsche, the Boxster and Cayman, have been officially discontinued in the EU. The decision was made due to the fact that the two models will not meet the stringent new cybersecurity regulations set to come into effect in July 2024. As a result, they will no longer be allowed to be registered in EU markets.
The retirement of the 718 lineup in the EU is primarily due to the fact that the cost of tweaking the electrical architecture of the Boxster and Cayman to meet the new regulations would be about half the budget of developing an all-new model. With the fourth-generation Boxster/Cayman having been on sale since 2016, under the internal codename “982,” the decision was made to discontinue the models in the EU. In contrast, the first-generation Macan, which started sales in 2014, remains unaffected.
While the retirement of the 718 lineup in the EU may not have a significant impact on Porsche’s finances, the Macan has always been a strong seller for the brand. In 2023 alone, the Macan achieved 87,355 sales globally, more than four times the sales of the 718 lineup. The next-generation 718 is expected to be purely electric when it launches in 2025, coexisting alongside the current gas models for an unspecified period.
Although the 718 Boxster and Cayman are no longer available for configuration in EU markets, interested buyers can still purchase a brand-new model from existing stock. However, this option will only be available until July 1, after which unsold cars will become unregistrable.
While the standard 718 Boxster and Cayman have been retired in the EU, there are exceptions with the Cayman GT4 RS and Boxster RS Spyder, as they are considered small series vehicles and are exempt from the new regulation. These models will continue production despite the retirement of the base 718 lineup in the EU.
In conclusion, the retirement of the 718 Boxster and Cayman in the EU marks the end of an era for these iconic entry-level sports cars. However, Porsche’s future plans for a purely electric next-generation 718, alongside continued production of the exempted small series models, show that the brand remains committed to innovation and offering a diverse range of vehicles to its customers.