EV sales plunge forces Porsche, Fiat to slash prices across Australia
Electric vehicle sales in Australia are down 6 per cent compared to 2024 in the first six months of this year – and that's despite more EV options being available to customers than ever before.
And we aren't just talking about the cutthroat Chinese brands reducing costs to compete – there are some surprising discounts to be had.
The Porsche Macan is the most surprising offer on the table.
Industry veteran Paul Gover posted on LinkedIn: 'Through all my many years in motoring I had never seen a discount on anything new from Porsche Cars Australia. Until today.
'Do Macan owners and shoppers want a Macan EV? The sales results say 'not yet' and dealers have been sounding the alarm bells for more than 18 months. Some even ordered a full year's supply of the combustion Macan before the final cut-off for production in Germany.'
The German sports car specialist rarely offers deals.
But Macan EV shoppers get a '$5000 Trade-In Bonus' on all cars, plus a 'Deposit Contribution' for the new plug-in Porker ($3000 on the Macan, Macan 4; $4000 on Macan S; $5000 on Macan Turbo).
And the brand is further sweetening the deal with a five-year factory warranty and five years roadside assistance at no cost.
Another European brand doing discounts is Fiat.
The pint-sized Fiat 500e is now being offered at a more fitting price of $38,990 drive-away – some $16,000 off the existing price ($52,500 plus on-roads). And the hotter pop-and-crackle Abarth 500e is now $43,990 drive-away, about $18,000 less than the original price with on-roads included.
Fiat – part of the Stellantis Group – isn't the only marque in the stable to be chopping it up. Jeep is still doing $40,000 drive-away deals on the Avenger electric small SUV, which is the country's cheapest vehicle of its type. And there are even better prices on in-stock models with low kilometres, as low as $34,990 drive-away for a car with 2000km on the clock.
There are also budget bargains to be had from China, too, with the outgoing Chery Omoda E5 being offered with up to $6000 off retail. The 430km-EV-range small SUV starts at $40,300 drive-away, and includes a free home charger – and it's one of the only EVs on the market with a full-size spare wheel.
Cox Automotive analyst Mike Costello says the raging retail offers point to potentially bigger concerns in the industry.
'Discounts or incentives tell us there are still challenges to overcome in terms of increasing consumer demand, although there are plenty of signs that consumers will consider an EV if the price and performance is right for them.
'Over the next few years carmakers are expected to increase the number of EVs they offer to meet government efficiency targets, so there's every change that great deals will become a common sight,' he said.
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The iconic 911 sports car range remains petrol powered but saw the first hybrid version arrive in Australian showrooms in early 2025. MORE: Porsche profits to slump over EV woes MORE: German leader tells carmakers to 'not be afraid' of Chinese competition Content originally sourced from: The boss of Porsche has told employees the automaker's traditional business model – which previously saw it boast industry-leading profit margins – needs to be scrapped. According to Bloomberg, a memo from Porsche CEO Oliver Blume told employees, "Our business model, which has served us well for many decades, no longer works in its current form". Mr Blume was setting the ground for cost-reduction plans for the German sports car manufacturer, following previous job cuts aimed at reducing costs amid falling sales and revenue. Porsche posted a six per cent global sales decline in the first half (H1) of 2025, selling 146,391 new vehicles compared to 155,945 over the same period last year. 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Looking at global figures, electrified vehicles – inclusive of EVs and PHEVs – accounted for 36.1 per cent of the brand's sales in H1, led by Macan Electric, the brand's second battery-electric model after the Taycan. In mid-2024, Porsche dropped its previous goal for EVs to make up 80 per cent of its total sales by 2030, with its EV push costing it a reported US$831 (A$1.26 billion) according to Automotive News. The iconic 911 sports car range remains petrol powered but saw the first hybrid version arrive in Australian showrooms in early 2025. MORE: Porsche profits to slump over EV woes MORE: German leader tells carmakers to 'not be afraid' of Chinese competition Content originally sourced from: The boss of Porsche has told employees the automaker's traditional business model – which previously saw it boast industry-leading profit margins – needs to be scrapped. According to Bloomberg, a memo from Porsche CEO Oliver Blume told employees, "Our business model, which has served us well for many decades, no longer works in its current form". Mr Blume was setting the ground for cost-reduction plans for the German sports car manufacturer, following previous job cuts aimed at reducing costs amid falling sales and revenue. Porsche posted a six per cent global sales decline in the first half (H1) of 2025, selling 146,391 new vehicles compared to 155,945 over the same period last year. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. As a result, the company revised down its profit margins – previously the envy of the automotive industry – to 6.5-8 per cent, around half its 14.1 per cent operating profit in 2024. The overall sales drop came despite record H1 sales in its biggest market, the United States (US), where sales grew 11.2 per cent. China – a previously reliable market for growth – saw the biggest downturn, with a 28 per cent fall in sales in H1 coming after a similar slide there in 2024. "The primary reasons for the decline remain the challenging market conditions, particularly in the luxury segment, and intense competition in the Chinese market," its H1 sales report said. While other German brands struggled in China in 2024, too, Porsche's pain spread to its home market of Germany in 2025, with a 23 per cent drop in H1 sales. Sales in Australia were down 12.8 per cent over the same period, with every model posting a year-on-year decline apart from its best-selling Macan SUV's 0.3 per cent increase, and Panamera's near doubling of sales. Globally, Macan sales have improved by 15 per cent, according to Porsche, with the Panamera sales up 13 per cent. 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The iconic 911 sports car range remains petrol powered but saw the first hybrid version arrive in Australian showrooms in early 2025. MORE: Porsche profits to slump over EV woes MORE: German leader tells carmakers to 'not be afraid' of Chinese competition Content originally sourced from: The boss of Porsche has told employees the automaker's traditional business model – which previously saw it boast industry-leading profit margins – needs to be scrapped. According to Bloomberg, a memo from Porsche CEO Oliver Blume told employees, "Our business model, which has served us well for many decades, no longer works in its current form". Mr Blume was setting the ground for cost-reduction plans for the German sports car manufacturer, following previous job cuts aimed at reducing costs amid falling sales and revenue. Porsche posted a six per cent global sales decline in the first half (H1) of 2025, selling 146,391 new vehicles compared to 155,945 over the same period last year. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. As a result, the company revised down its profit margins – previously the envy of the automotive industry – to 6.5-8 per cent, around half its 14.1 per cent operating profit in 2024. The overall sales drop came despite record H1 sales in its biggest market, the United States (US), where sales grew 11.2 per cent. China – a previously reliable market for growth – saw the biggest downturn, with a 28 per cent fall in sales in H1 coming after a similar slide there in 2024. "The primary reasons for the decline remain the challenging market conditions, particularly in the luxury segment, and intense competition in the Chinese market," its H1 sales report said. While other German brands struggled in China in 2024, too, Porsche's pain spread to its home market of Germany in 2025, with a 23 per cent drop in H1 sales. Sales in Australia were down 12.8 per cent over the same period, with every model posting a year-on-year decline apart from its best-selling Macan SUV's 0.3 per cent increase, and Panamera's near doubling of sales. Globally, Macan sales have improved by 15 per cent, according to Porsche, with the Panamera sales up 13 per cent. The German automaker has gone heavy on both hybrid and electric vehicles, introducing the second-generation Macan in 2024 as an EV only, with petrol and hybrid versions to arrive in showrooms as soon as 2027. Porsche says that 60 per cent of Macan buyers globally are opting for the electric version as stocks of petrol versions run out. In the first half of 2025, Porsche has delivered 706 EVs and 181 PHEVs in Australia, accounting for 30 per cent of its total 2965 year-to-date deliveries. Looking at global figures, electrified vehicles – inclusive of EVs and PHEVs – accounted for 36.1 per cent of the brand's sales in H1, led by Macan Electric, the brand's second battery-electric model after the Taycan. In mid-2024, Porsche dropped its previous goal for EVs to make up 80 per cent of its total sales by 2030, with its EV push costing it a reported US$831 (A$1.26 billion) according to Automotive News. The iconic 911 sports car range remains petrol powered but saw the first hybrid version arrive in Australian showrooms in early 2025. MORE: Porsche profits to slump over EV woes MORE: German leader tells carmakers to 'not be afraid' of Chinese competition Content originally sourced from:
