Self-driving cars are going to be the future of mobility. That is, for everyone but Porsche.
Porsche CEO Oliver Blume told German newspaper Westfalen-Blatt that the performance carmaker does not plan to develop an autonomous car, Reuters reports.
"One wants to drive a Porsche by oneself," Westfalen-Blatt said. Adding, "an iPhone belongs in your pocket, not on the road."
Despite not wanting to offer a self-driving car, Porsche is still investing in both plug-in hybrids and fully electric models. A plug-in hybrid 911 with an all-electric range of 31 miles will be on sale as soon as 2018, Blume told Westfalen-Blatt.
Additionally, as we previously reported, Porsche's board approved the Mission E Tesla-fighting sedan late last year. The car, which will cost Porsche around $1.1 million to develop, will have a range of around 310 miles and do 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.
Personally, I think it's an unwise move to ignore autonomy in future models. Why couldn't the Mission E also drive itself from time to time?
Certainly, those who buy Porsches enjoy driving ... but not all. Cars like the mid-size Macan crossover prove that not everyone wants a driver's Porsche, but rather just a car from the Porsche brand.
Even Cadillac, which has famously turned its eye toward more driver-centric cars in recent years, is embracing autonomy and believes that driving passion and self-driving cars can co-exist.
I, for one, would love to have a 911 that goes like stink on a country backroad on a sporty Sunday drive but then also handles the monotony of daily commuting during the week. I have a feeling many drivers will feel the same.