This page is about Porsche AG, a brand and producer of automobiles. See Porsche SE to learn more about the holding company that owns the bulk of the Volkswagen Group. See Porsche for further usage information (disambiguation).
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Porsche Background
The book of the professor. The Type 356 marked the beginning of the Porsche vehicle brand’s history, but the company’s foundation was actually formed at Professor Ferdinand Porsche’s design studio. The start-up phase of a tale in the making was documented in the first order book in 1930.
The first ledger of the Porsche design office, kept in a fireproof vault in the archive of the Porsche Museum, is unremarkably kept in a gray safe in a climate-controlled room. One may discover order number 1, which was placed on August 21, 1930, in the tattered ledger. Manufacturing separate parts for a “Hesselmann engine,” a hybrid of a gas and a diesel engine, was part of the task, demonstrating the company’s inventive spirit from the beginning. The seventh order was on a completely different level. In the ledger, the description is “Small-car project.” In order to motorize the masses, the Wanderer firm needed an idea that would allow it to economically and cheaply transform what was once thought of as a luxury item into a Volks-Wagen—a vehicle for the common man. A wise decision, as history would show. The order book offers an insightful glimpse into Ferdinand Porsche’s small company of just nineteen people and how they lived out the ideals of design inventiveness.
Professor Porsche officially registered his business in the commercial registry on April 25, 1931. From that moment on, the Stuttgart-based “Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche GmbH, Konstruktionen und Beratung für Motoren and Fahrzeuge” was legally recognized. In 1930, the first five initiatives were launched in St. Ulrich, Austria. Ferry Porsche’s bedroom contained the drafting board. But at the start of 1931, the office relocated to Stuttgart, first renting space in the heart of the city. In the automotive industry, the concept of a neutral design office was still novel. At the time, Ferdinand Porsche had no plans to produce his own automobiles. His goal was to complete technical tasks for various clients, collect license fees, and collect royalties from patents. The initial order book provides a striking illustration of how the Porsche headquarters evolved into a hub of innovation for the German auto industry.
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The exclusive importer of Porsche automobiles into the United States is Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
It was founded in 1984 and is completely owned by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, a German company with its headquarters in Stuttgart. About 300 employees are employed by PCNA, which offers 189 dealers Porsche automobiles, parts, services, marketing, and training. To deliver the best-in-class experience to Porsche consumers, they in turn work.
Porsche has created a number of technologies throughout the course of its more than 65-year history that have enhanced safety, increased vehicle performance, and sparked environmental advancements in the automotive sector. By adding to its lengthy series of motorsports triumphs dating back to its first 24 Hours of Le Mans class win in 1951, the firm continues to honor its heritage. Porsche is now regarded as the most successful sports car racing brand in the world, having earned more than 30,000 victories.
PCNA works to uphold the excellence, dedication, and distinction that have come to be associated with its brand. PCNA imports the iconic 911, Boxster, and Cayman sports cars, Cayenne and Macan sport utility vehicles, and Panamera sports sedans for the United States.
From its base in Southern California, Porsche Motorsport North America offers support, parts, and service for racing. Parts delivery is done by Porsche Logistics Services, LLC out of Atlanta, GA and Ontario, CA.
A brand-new Northeast Regional Support Center that was developed and run with a level of environmental sensitivity and received a distinguished LEED Gold Certificate was also formally launched by PCNA in October 2009. The 300,0000 square foot structure is the only one in the northeast region to obtain this distinction (Easton, Pennsylvania). Other facilities are also a part of the environmentally friendly projects in the United States. Porsche’s logistical facility in Ontario, California started using solar energy in 2009, saving 50,000 pounds of CO2 annually.
In January 2015, PCNA relocated to its new North American headquarters, which is now situated in Atlanta, Georgia’s southern metropolitan area. This one-of-a-kind building demonstrates a dedication to both design and functionality and aims to offer a unique experience among all other automotive brands in the world. The Porsche Experience Center, a North American first in the industry, is located in the company’s headquarters in addition to its stunning architecture and welcomes customers, business partners, and brand fans to celebrate all things Porsche. The Porsche Experience Center contains a Driving Simulator Lab, Porsche Driver’s Selection Store, Carrera Cafe, and Restaurant 356 for the ultimate fine-dining experience. It also has a module-based 1.6-mile driver development track. The facility is also home to the PorscheExclusive – Personal Design Studio, the Business Center, the Classic Car Gallery, and the Restoration Center.
the Porsche
Since Professor Ferdinand Porsche created the first gasoline-electric hybrid car towards the end of the 19th century, the name Porsche has become synonymous with the automobile. He established Porsche the business in 1930, a German carmaker that created and produced cars like the first Volkswagen before introducing its own sports car, the 356 in 1949.
The first 356 prototype had a mid-engine, but by the time production began, the car had a boxer engine situated behind the rear axle, which is still a characteristic of Porsche design and is found in the 911 today. Rear seats may be added, increasing functionality and giving them the distinctive handling characteristics that so many Porsche Club of America members adore.
The Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen-based automaker, however, is not averse to change, and over time it expanded its mainstream vehicle inventory to include entry-level mid- and front-engined sports cars, V8-powered GT cars, a supercar roughly every ten years, and even sports utility vehicles and sedans. They all have a level of sportiness and general usefulness that other automakers find difficult to achieve.
Today, clients have a choice of six models when they enter a Porsche showroom. The rear-engined 911 continues to serve as the brand’s premium sports car. The company’s entry-level sports cars are the mid-engined Cayman and Boxster. The full-size Cayenne sport utility vehicle, the little Macan SUV, and the Panamera sedan are all examples of four-door Porsches. All models come in a variety of variations to accommodate the preferences and demands of consumers, and they can all be further customized through a long list of options or even the Porsche Exclusive program.
Additionally, the world of Porsche extends beyond automobiles. It has continued to uphold its long-standing reputation as an engineering company prepared to collaborate with other automakers, businesses, and Porsche Design, a company that creates products ranging from shoes to clocks.
The Porsche Club of America and Porsche have a long history together, dating back to the club’s founding in 1955. In the early years, when Porsches weren’t as common or dependable as they are now, PCA provided support for North American Porsche owners. If members experienced problems with their vehicles, Porsche would be informed. Following a petition from club members, the carmaker acknowledged PCA, starting a long-lasting partnership that now benefits both Porsche and club members. One such advantage was noticeable at the first Porsche Parade in 1956: Porsche dispatched factory representatives to provide members with technical advice. This practice is still practiced today at PCA’s bi-annual Tech Tactics meetings.
Use the links below to learn more about what Porsche has to offer. They include information on anything from getting a Porsche Production Specifications (PPS) certificate of authenticity (formerly known as a COA), to European delivery, to finding a Porsche dealer.
After whom was Porsche named?
Discover the tales behind the names assigned to each of the current Porsche models, which include references to everything from tiny crocodiles to historic South American races, as well as more commonplace explanations.
Why are there so many Porsche models with numerical names? What do recognizable names from today, like Cayman and Taycan, mean? Furthermore, why is Porsche even called Porsche? Our in-depth guide discusses the origin of the name “Porsche” for these automobiles. It starts right at the company’s very beginning. What gives Porsche its name? Simply said, it bears Ferdinand Porsche’s name, the name of its originator. The company was founded in 1931 to offer engineering consulting services, and its first significant job was to build a Volkswagen at the request of the German government. The Beetle was so created. Porsche didn’t finish the Type 64, which is considered to be their first automobile, until 1939. By that time, the company had a fascinating numbering system that was well-established.
Every project and order received a sequential number thanks to this internal process. When the total reached 356 in 1948, a crucial milestone had been attained: this was the first time an automobile had ever had its own official brand name assigned to it. It also didn’t end there. Even the most well-known Porsche of them all still features the numbering system on its vehicles today.
Who is Porsche’s brand owner?
In 2011, Volkswagen acquired Porsche. Porsche was once considered a division of Volkswagen AG (interestingly, besides being the Porsche parent company, VW also owns Audi, Bugatti, and Lamborghini). In light of this, Volkswagen AG is the entity that owns Porsche.
Why is Porsche renowned?
In the history of motorsport, the Porsche brand is renowned for its victories, pole positions, drivers’ and manufacturer’s championships, and lap records. Porsche won their first of many class triumphs at the illustrious 24 hours of Le Mans at the Circuit de la Sarthe just three years after the first 356 was produced. Porsche actually holds the Le Mans race victory record with 19 overall victories. This achievement demonstrates the brand’s capacity to create fantastic race vehicles that are both fast and dependable. It also illustrates how Porsche engineers can think “outside the box” to earn valuable track seconds.
Despite this, don’t imagine for a second that the brand’s popularity is exclusive to Le Mans. Porsche has established its dominance in nearly all forms of motor racing, from winning illustrious events like the 24 Hours of Daytona, the Paris-Dakar Rally, the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, and the Monte Carlo Rally to dominating numerous GT and endurance championships and developing the most successful German racing engine in Formula 1.
In an effort to advance important technologies for the deployment and harvesting of electric energy and contribute to the development of road-going electric vehicles, Porsche is getting ready to field its own works squad in Formula E for the 2019 season. Porsche also keeps working on the hybrid prototype Porsche 919 Hybrid, which won the 2015–2017 Le Mans 24-hour races three times in a row. Because the 919 Evo, the current version of the car, does not participate in an official competition, Porsche engineers have been allowed to fully use the potential of its hybrid powertrain, shattering a lap record at the Nurburgring that had stood for 35 years. In actuality, Stefan Bellof, while operating a Porsche 962, held the previous record. Porsche still holds both the production car and overall records on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, which were set with the 911 GT2 RS in September 2017. When all is said and done, Porsche and motorsport go hand in hand, and we salute the company for its incredible success, ongoing innovation, and quest of the podium’s top step.