Porsche

Porsche AG specializes in high-performance SUVs, sedans and sports cars. Headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, Porsche is part of the Volkswagen AG marque. In 2015, Porsche sold 218,983 cars globally.

Porsche was founded by Ferdinand Porsche in 1931, who was previously the chief engineer at Mercedes-Benz. The company first started as a vehicle development and automobile consulting business. The first Porsche model, Porsche 64, was released in 1939.

After World War II, Ferdinand’s son, Ferry was the designer behind Porsche’s next model, 356, which became road certified in 1948 and was the first model to be sold under the Porsche name.

In 1964, the next famous Porsche model, 911 was introduced and designed by Ferry Porsche's eldest son, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. The model featured a rear air-cooled engine concept and eventually became Porsche’s most iconic model in both the consumer and sporting industries. As such, this model helped propel Porsche’s popularity in the German market.

In 1972, Porsche became a public company, as they established an executive board. Three years later, the 911 Turbo supercar hit the North American markets

In 1982, Porsche created one of the most successful sports car of all time, the 956 model. Also, in that same year, Porsche established its North American headquarters in Reno, Nevada. In 2011, Porsche Cars North America relocated to a newly built headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

In the early 2000s, Porsche introduced sport utility models and teamed up with Toyota to help build hybrid technology into its vehicles.

Along with hybrid technology, Porsche is focused on sustainable growth by building electrically powered vehicles, naming their initiative, Mission E. Plans include to build a new assembly plant in Zuffenhausen, Germany, which will produce the first all-electric sports car.

The Porsche logo includes the coat of arms of the Free’s People’s State of Württemberg, along with the coat of arms of Stuttgart, placed in the middle of the overall logo. After WWII, the Württemberg coat of arms was dissolved and now lives on in the Porsche logo.

Porsche models include the Cayenne, 718 Boxster/Cayman, Macan, Panamera and 911. Porsche’s main manufacturing plant is located in the outskirts of Stuttgart, in the urban district Zuffenhausen. More than 200 sports cars are produced in the plant every day.

In addition, Porsche has played a big role in the motorsport world, winning more than 28,000 races globally, including 16 wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Porsche is also the largest race car manufacturer in the world.

Porsche sponsors the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, a premier indoor clay court event on the WTA tour. The event is held in Stuttgart and the winner receives a Porsche 911.