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2024.07.21

Word count: 955, reading time: about 2 minutes

Introduction: The current President and CEO of Porsche China, Karl-Heinz Koch, will be transferred to another important position within the group.

Author |Wei Wen, China Business News

On July 20, Porsche AG announced a new high-level personnel change: Starting from September 1 this year, Alexander Pollich will replace Michael Kirsch as President and CEO of Porsche China, fully responsible for the brand's business in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Kirsch will be transferred to another important position within the group.

Alexander Pollich has worked for Porsche for 23 years and has held several key management positions within the group. He is a sales expert with international work experience. He has served as Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche Deutschland GmbH since July 2018. Before taking charge of Porsche's German domestic market, Alexander Pollich also served as CEO of Porsche Canada and the United Kingdom, successfully expanding the brand's business in both regions.

“We are delighted to have Mr. Pollich take charge of the challenging Chinese market. He is an experienced sales expert who will further enhance the influence of the Porsche brand in China,” said von Peder, member of the Porsche Global Executive Board and head of sales and marketing.

Porsche is currently facing great growth pressure in China. In 2023, Porsche delivered a total of 320,221 new cars worldwide, a year-on-year increase of 3.3%. Sales in North America, Europe and other regional markets increased year-on-year. However, the delivery volume in China was 79,283 vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 15%. At that time, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said that sales in other markets had increased, which could make up for the decline in the Chinese market; according to the different needs of various regional markets, Porsche adjusted its product supply to China in 2023.

However, in the first half of this year, Porsche began to encounter challenges in many regional markets around the world. From January to June this year, Porsche's two largest regional markets both saw a year-on-year decline in sales, with sales in China at 29,600 vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 33%; sales in North America were 39,600 vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 6%. In the German market, which is managed by Alexander Pollich, Porsche sold 208,100 vehicles in the first half of this year, a year-on-year increase of 22%.

In May this year, there were reports that some Porsche dealers in China launched protests and boycotts due to falling sales and selling cars at a loss.

In a joint statement with all dealers, Porsche China stated that Porsche China and all authorized dealers have always maintained a long-term, mutual trusting normal dialogue mechanism; during the period of industry change and transformation, automobile manufacturers must always actively listen to the voices of dealers from the front line. Only by working more closely and supporting each other can manufacturers and dealers better meet the needs of Chinese consumers in accordance with local conditions and achieve sustainable win-win development.

In addition, Porsche is currently vigorously promoting the transformation to electrification. However, the overseas new energy vehicle market is currently showing a trend of slowing down, and Porsche's electrification process may be more dependent on the Chinese market.

"The electrification development of the Chinese market is more in line with our future product strategy," Blume said at the 2023 financial report meeting.

WeChat Editor| Lamb