
Porsche is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, a world-renowned luxury car brand under the Volkswagen Group, also known as Porshe. Headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, it is one of the main representatives of European and American automobiles. Porsche's main models include the 911, 718, Boxster, Cayman, Panamera, Cayenne, and Macan. Taking the Porsche Cayenne 2020 Cayenne S 2.9T as an example: it is a mid-to-large SUV with a length, width, and height of 4918mm, 1983mm, and 1696mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 2895mm. It is equipped with a 2.9T twin-turbocharged engine, delivering a maximum power of 324kw and a maximum torque of 550nm, matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Porsche is a legendary brand founded by Ferdinand Porsche, which began in Germany in 1931 and initially focused on design engineering consulting. After World War II, it launched its first sports car, the 356, gradually becoming a benchmark for performance. However, due to internal family disputes and debt issues caused by the 2008 financial crisis, Volkswagen Group officially incorporated Porsche into its portfolio in 2009 through a series of equity transactions. Today, as a subsidiary of Volkswagen, Porsche shares R&D resources and supply chains, such as the shared platform between the Cayenne and Touareg, reducing costs and improving efficiency. Interestingly, the Porsche family in turn holds a majority stake in Volkswagen, creating a rare cross-ownership relationship in the automotive industry. Having studied automotive history for years, this story always makes me reflect on the rise and fall of family businesses; Volkswagen's support has accelerated Porsche's innovation in electric vehicles like the Taycan, yet the brand's DNA remains rooted in its racing spirit.

Porsche is now a member of the Volkswagen Group, a deal finalized back in 2009. The Volkswagen Group also includes brands like Audi and Lamborghini, forming a vast automotive family. Before its acquisition, Porsche was on the brink of bankruptcy due to financial crises, but Volkswagen gradually increased its stake to resolve the issue. After joining, Porsche leveraged Volkswagen's resources to focus more on high-performance vehicle development—for instance, the electric Taycan utilizes Volkswagen's universal platform technology. As an industry observer, I've noted that despite being part of a large conglomerate, Porsche's market positioning has not declined but rather risen, with steady sales growth in China. This integration accelerates the launch of new models, though fans hope to avoid excessive design homogenization. The similarities between the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg highlight the benefits of shared platforms, a topic I often discuss at car enthusiast meetups.

From a technical perspective, let me discuss Porsche's affiliation with the Volkswagen Group. After Volkswagen completed the acquisition in 2009, Porsche gained access to shared engine and chassis systems. For instance, the Macan shares the MLB platform with the Audi Q5, significantly reducing R&D costs. It's common to see Porsche parts being used in Volkswagen vehicles during repairs, though different tuning maintains Porsche's performance edge. While integrated into the group, Porsche has retained its independence and steadfastly upheld its sports car essence. Years ago, I had the opportunity to tour their factories and observed shared assembly lines, though Porsche's assembly areas were noticeably more refined. In the electric vehicle era, Volkswagen's resources enabled the rapid launch of the Taycan, expanding global market share. As an automotive enthusiast, I believe this corporate relationship fosters innovation while preventing brand extinction.


