Once the Student, Now the Teacher: Porsche Still The Most Profitable Auto Maker In The World

Porsche Chief Executive Wendelin Wiedeking loves to relax on weekends by rumbling around the farmed fields near his home in a tractor. But when it comes to running the worlds most profitable automaker, Wiedeking never takes his foot off the gas.

With sales growth fueled by one hit model after the next, Porsches revenues are set to double in the next five years, from $10 billion this year to $21.3 billion in 2012, according to Morgan Stanley (MS), while car sales zoom over the same period from 99,000 to nearly 200,000. And while many automakers struggle with squeezed profit margins, Porsche's earning power is the industry envy: For the fiscal year ended July 31, analysts forecast net profit of $2 billion, up 33%, and an operating margin of 19.8%.


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SupraNeverBack - 8/20/2007 2:38:29 PM

+1 Boost

A lot of rich people still like to be ripped off.

Agent009 - 8/20/2007 2:53:55 PM

+4 Boost

I guess rich people getting ripped of is better than poor people, like other "nameless" brands do?

pushrod27 - 8/20/2007 3:27:26 PM

+2 Boost

Sure, who needs a 911? We'll all buy Supras and Celicas... Moron.

4x4rules - 8/20/2007 4:02:47 PM

+2 Boost

the great thing about supras and celicas...they are recyclable. Any junk yard is full of them. Nice cars? maybe-at one time. Timeless? Ask the junkyard guy.

4x4rules - 8/20/2007 4:11:41 PM

0 Boost

come on if my 17 year old son wanted to strap big exhaust pipes on a celica id let him.

iepurilah - 8/20/2007 4:15:18 PM

+1 Boost

Porsche deserves this position because it has almost perfect engineering at reasonable prices.

S4cabriofoxone - 8/20/2007 4:24:42 PM

+3 Boost

Far from reasonable... but I'd still buy one.

Consider all the options they have on every model. There is only one vehicle they sell that doesn't have $40K+ worth of options: the Cayenne Turbo. That's IT. This is how they make their profits!

ThierryHenry14 - 8/20/2007 4:49:26 PM

+3 Boost

Go Porsche... Still the most profitable and best performance in the industry...

hk4site - 8/20/2007 6:13:51 PM

+1 Boost

I would never buy a new porsche as their resale tanks in about 4 years over 50%. I have owned several and have been satisfied with them until you repair them!

ThierryHenry14 - 8/20/2007 6:34:43 PM

+2 Boost

So what brand keeps 50% over 4 years (not a sarcastic question)?

Well, I have yet to have to repair mine, and even if I had to repair it, I think all my joys with the vehicle (on track and road) outweighs the dissatisfaction.

Threepoint1415926 - 8/20/2007 8:10:21 PM

+2 Boost

Porsche's have always been high maintenance vehicles-just like all high performance cars but that's not to be confused with highly unreliable vehicles.

What always gets me are these guys who went through college with a Corolla, never having changed the oil or rotated the tires, then they get all bent out of shape when their first Porsche takes 2 grand from them for a scheduled service.

sewingmachine - 8/20/2007 9:19:21 PM

+1 Boost

i just dont get what u think. of course their gonna get bent out of shape when an oil change cost, equals a used car.

r_driver04 - 8/21/2007 12:28:31 PM

+1 Boost

And this is why 90% of drivers don't own a Porsche. But I'm gonna get mine!!!

S4cabriofoxone - 8/21/2007 1:01:27 PM

+2 Boost

Honestly. Down 50% over 4 years isn't bad at all. It's actually very normal. Is 2.5 years old and it's dropped almost 40% already.

But you know what? I don't give a damn!

S4cabriofoxone - 8/21/2007 1:02:05 PM

+2 Boost

*MY CAR* is 2.5 years old...

I don't know what happened there!

Threepoint1415926 - 8/21/2007 3:15:08 PM

+2 Boost

But you're not talking about an oil change sewingmachine and that's why people like you seem to complain about the cost. This is an extremely complex and intricate machine that's race bread, not built for economy. You're talking about timing belts being changed, valve adjustments, clutch adjustments, wheel alignments, clutch plate wear checks, balance shaft drive belts and so on... There's no wonder that the best performing cars on the planet take a lot of upkeep! It's precisely those race components and constant attention to their details that keeps them that way. When buyers buy race cars they ought to know that they're not Corollas!! It's a wonder people dont complain about the maintenance fees of their personal jets too!

r_driver04 - 8/21/2007 12:26:35 PM

+1 Boost

911s are collectors items. What's a Supra or Celica? Toyota couldn't compete in the real sports car world huh. lol