Porsche definitely sparked headlines earlier this week by announcing that it is not following other automakers in trying to develop a self-driving vehicle by 2020, opting to stay out of autonomy altogether and continue focusing on giving customers the ultimate driving rush instead.
To that end, Porsche is promising a push toward electric mobility — prepping its Mission E all-electric sports car (see photo below) to hit the road by the end of the decade.
However, while Porsche CEO Oliver Blume is willing to give credit to Tesla for all the automaker has achieved in the electric vehicle space, he thinks that strides can be made in the area — especially as far as monetizing goes — and that Porsche might be better equipped to make them because of its rich history.
"Tesla has introduced many new facets. It has provided the industry with genuine stimuli. And that deserves respect," Blume said in an interview posted on Porsche's website Wednesday. "Nevertheless, it is not yet economically successful. Our response is to link traditional sports car genes from our decades of experience with fresh ideas and bold ways of thinking. Yet that is by no means everything. Investment in a new model series at Porsche always has to be a promise of returns as well. Otherwise we prefer to let it be."
Elon Musk's Tesla wasn't the only tech-forward company that Blume offered his take on. When asked how seriously he takes technology companies such as Google, Microsoft and Apple contributing to the automotive space, Blume didn't feel threatened at all — at least not yet.
"Can Apple build a comparable Porsche? No. Does Apple want to build a Porsche? No. Does Porsche then need to worry about Apple as a competitor? No, no and three times no," Blume said later in the interview. "Does that mean we can ignore Apple and their ilk? Certainly not! I'm impressed by the tremendous technological dynamism of this company. We can only learn from this and we will have to see how things stand with our skills in dealing with these players. Either we have the skills or we will have to develop them."
More than anything, Blume says Porsche must "self-confidently concentrate on what we can do," which is continue to "develop and build fascinating sports cars," while incorporating "tomorrow's technology in smart and intelligent ways."
There's likely to be few complaints about Porsche if it continues to do just that.
