Porsche sales and revenues take a hit

In the six months it’s estimating revenue of about three billion Euro and sales of around 34,000. Actual figures won’t be available until March.

Porsche says the better ratio of revenue to sales reflects a change in the mix of cars sold, with 911s taking a larger share and Boxsters decreasing significantly.

Provisional figures show 13,500 911s sold (down from 16,263 in 2007), with Boxster sales of 3900, a drop of almost two-thirds from the 9835 racked up during the same period of 2007.

Porsche cites two reasons for the model shift. First, the success of the new 911 models featuring the more fuel-efficient Direct Fuel Injection engines, and the PDK double-clutch gearbox. And second, the imminent arrival of new-generation Boxsters and Caymans.

The Cayenne luxury SUV continued to do good business, though the global downturn has delivered it a hit too. Sales fell from 20,638 to a projected 16,600.

Porsche is predicting sales in Germany of 4150 (down from 5630) and in America, 11,850 (16,209 in 2007). In the rest of the world it expects 2008/2009 half-year sales of 18,000, compared to the previous year’s 24,897.