Porsche China R & D Center has completed its adjustment, and new projects can be delivered in the second to fourth quarters. | The Frontline

During the Shanghai Auto Show, Porsche officially announced that its R&D center in China had completed its strategic adjustment.

The newly established R&D center integrates three major entities of Porsche: the former R&D branch in China, Digital Technology China, and Porsche Engineering China. The final size of the team will be approximately 300 people.

The first technical project after the establishment of the R&D center is the first information and entertainment solution customized specifically for the Chinese market, which is currently planned to be officially installed in Porsche models in 2026.

Xia Kehan, a member of Porsche's global board of directors and the person in charge of vehicle information technology, and Li Nan, the vice president of Porsche China's technology department, had an exchange with media such as 36Kr.

Regarding the importance of Porsche's R&D center in China, as the person in charge of Porsche's global vehicle information technology, Xia Kehan said that Li Nan, the main person in charge in the Chinese region, will report directly to him without an intermediate layer, and the R&D center in China will have a great deal of autonomous decision - making power.

After the establishment of the R&D center, the overall R&D process will be greatly shortened. Xia Kehan said that the development of new projects and functions is expected to be completed within 2 - 4 quarters. In the past, this cycle could be as long as 2 - 4 years.

As the main person in charge of Porsche's R&D center in China, Li Nan added that the development of this information and entertainment solution to be launched in 2026, from hardware to software, will be entirely entrusted to the Chinese team and Chinese partners.

Recently, Porsche's progress in intelligent driving has attracted much attention, and there are industry rumors that Porsche has cooperated with domestic intelligent driving suppliers.

In response, Xia Kehan said that Porsche is conducting relevant R&D work on key functions, which will be installed in different models in the near future. Although the relevant details cannot be disclosed, Xia Kehan still revealed several criteria for Porsche to select intelligent driving suppliers. "We will choose suppliers that have the greatest potential, are most in line with the brand image of Porsche, and can carry out efficient R&D cooperation with us."

The establishment of the R&D center in China is a key measure for Porsche to reshape its brand image. Chinese consumers' high expectations for intelligentization are accelerating the localization process of R&D of traditional luxury brands.