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janzenms · 10-03-2004, 08:34 PM

Found a little article on the subject. Kind of interesting... found it on http://www.thecarconnection.com

Here is the page I found it on: http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?n=156,175&sid=175&article=7619

"Is It Downhill for Roadster Market?

The U.S. roadster market is not likely to see another peak anytime soon, forecasts Peter Schwarzenbauer, CEO of Porsche Cars North America. The segment topped out at around 75,000 units in 1999, and is now operating at a "natural" level of around 50,000, said the German executive. That's not good news for Porsche, which is getting ready to launch a new version of its once-hot Boxster - shown by TCC in its coverage of the 2004 Paris Motor Show. In '99, Boxster sales hit 13,000, but this year, volume is running "a little under 6000," confided Schwarzenbauer. Even with the new car, Porsche expects to get Boxster sales back up only to "somewhere in-between those two numbers," the CEO suggested. At the same time, Schwarzenbauer admitted that there are so many "external" factors influencing the U.S. auto market right now that after 20 years in the business, "I've never seen it so complicated," nor as difficult to predict." The German automaker expects to have an average one new car or variant to introduce every six months going forward, company officials said in Paris. That includes the all-new 911, which went on sale recently. While the Boxster has lost much of its momentum, Schwarzenbauer is more optimistic about Porsche's flagship sports car and, he believes, for good reason. The 911 primarily appeals to motorists with household incomes of at least $200,000 annually. There are currently 2.6 million U.S. households that fit that description, but the number is forecast to jump 46 percent, to 3.8 million households, by 2012. To get those potential customers thinking about the 911, PCNA plans to launch a test drive "experience" program starting next January. Porsche is betting that once someone tries a 911, they'll be far more willing to buy one. -Paul A. Eisenstein"

Sounds like they know this segment is risky business and is putting its money into more sure things... like the 911 (& cayenne).

Not pants down afterall... more like betting on a sure thing. ;-)

10-03-2004, 08:34 PM	#11
janzenms Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fair Oaks, CA Posts: 75	Found a little article on the subject. Kind of interesting... found it on http://www.thecarconnection.com Here is the page I found it on: http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?n=156,175&sid=175&article=7619 "Is It Downhill for Roadster Market? The U.S. roadster market is not likely to see another peak anytime soon, forecasts Peter Schwarzenbauer, CEO of Porsche Cars North America. The segment topped out at around 75,000 units in 1999, and is now operating at a "natural" level of around 50,000, said the German executive. That's not good news for Porsche, which is getting ready to launch a new version of its once-hot Boxster - shown by TCC in its coverage of the 2004 Paris Motor Show. In '99, Boxster sales hit 13,000, but this year, volume is running "a little under 6000," confided Schwarzenbauer. Even with the new car, Porsche expects to get Boxster sales back up only to "somewhere in-between those two numbers," the CEO suggested. At the same time, Schwarzenbauer admitted that there are so many "external" factors influencing the U.S. auto market right now that after 20 years in the business, "I've never seen it so complicated," nor as difficult to predict." The German automaker expects to have an average one new car or variant to introduce every six months going forward, company officials said in Paris. That includes the all-new 911, which went on sale recently. While the Boxster has lost much of its momentum, Schwarzenbauer is more optimistic about Porsche's flagship sports car and, he believes, for good reason. The 911 primarily appeals to motorists with household incomes of at least $200,000 annually. There are currently 2.6 million U.S. households that fit that description, but the number is forecast to jump 46 percent, to 3.8 million households, by 2012. To get those potential customers thinking about the 911, PCNA plans to launch a test drive "experience" program starting next January. Porsche is betting that once someone tries a 911, they'll be far more willing to buy one. -Paul A. Eisenstein" Sounds like they know this segment is risky business and is putting its money into more sure things... like the 911 (& cayenne). Not pants down afterall... more like betting on a sure thing. ;-) __________________ -Mike ----------------------------- 2001 Porsche Boxster, 2001 Honda Accord V6, 2006 Honda Ridgeline My other hobbie: emptum, GETitSELLit, CARazed ----------------------------- http://static.flickr.com/55/128864958_14b7e6dbeb_m.jpg Last edited by janzenms; 10-03-2004 at 08:43 PM.