Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG
Company History
Porsche History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1931 in Stuttgart, Germany
When was Porsche founded?
Porsche was founded in 1931 in Stuttgart, Germany by Ferdinand Porsche and Ferry Porsche, making it 95 years old.
- Founded
- 1931
- Founding place
- Stuttgart, Germany
- Founders
- Ferdinand Porsche and Ferry Porsche
- Headquarters today
- Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany
- Milestones documented
- 12 (1931–2026)
- Current CEO
- Michael Leiters
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1931 | Porsche Engineering Office Founded |
| 1948 | Porsche 356 Built |
| 1963 | 911 Introduced |
| 1996 | Boxster Launched |
| 2002 | Cayenne Launch |
| 2012 | Volkswagen Completes Takeover |
| 2019 | Taycan Launch |
| 2021 | Acquired Bugatti Rimac (joint venture stake) |
| 2022 | Porsche AG IPO |
| 2025 | Profit Collapses on EV Writedown |
| 2026 | Michael Leiters Becomes CEO |
| 2026 | H1 2026 Profit Recovery and Future Package |
- Where was Porsche founded?
- Porsche was founded in Stuttgart, Germany in 1931. wikidata.org
- Who founded Porsche?
- Porsche was founded by Ferdinand Porsche and Ferry Porsche.
- When did Porsche start?
- Porsche was founded in 1931.
- How old is Porsche?
- Porsche is 95 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Ferdinand Porsche opened an engineering consultancy in Stuttgart in 1931 and designed cars for other companies, including the Volkswagen Beetle. His son Ferry built the first Porsche-badged car, the 356, in Gmund, Austria, in 1948, and the 911 followed in 1963. In 2008-2009 Porsche SE tried to take over Volkswagen using options; the plan failed in the financial crisis, and Volkswagen took full control of the Porsche car business in 2012 before listing it again in 2022.
Founders
Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951) founded Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche GmbH in Stuttgart in 1931 as a design consultancy. The office designed the Auto Union Grand Prix cars and the Volkswagen Beetle. His wartime work for the Nazi regime, including use of forced labor, remains a documented part of the company's history. Porsche was born on September 3, 1875 and died on January 30, 1951. His other work included the Mercedes-Benz SS and SSK. During the Second World War he worked on German tanks, including the Elefant and the Maus, and he was a member of the Nazi Party. Ferdinand Porsche was born in 1875.
Ferry Porsche
Ferry Porsche (1909-1998) built the 356, the first car sold under the Porsche name, in 1948 and led the company as it became a sports-car manufacturer, overseeing the launch of the 911 in 1963. He later served as chairman of the supervisory board. Ferdinand Anton Ernst Porsche was born on September 19, 1909 and died on March 27, 1998. With his father he opened an automobile design bureau in Stuttgart in 1931. His nephew Ferdinand Piech was the longtime chairman of Volkswagen Group, and his son Ferdinand Alexander Porsche worked on the design of the Porsche 911. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Key Milestones
Porsche Engineering Office Founded
Ferdinand Porsche founded the engineering consultancy in Stuttgart.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgPorsche 356 Built
Ferry Porsche led production of the first Porsche-branded sports car, using the rear-engine, air-cooled layout that would define the brand.
Source: en.wikipedia.org911 Introduced
Porsche introduced the 911, the model that became the brand's central sports-car icon and remains its defining product line today.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgCayenne Launch
The Cayenne SUV created a new profit engine and broadened Porsche's customer base beyond sports-car buyers.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgVolkswagen Completes Takeover
Volkswagen completed its purchase of Porsche AG in August 2012.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgTaycan Launch
Porsche launched the Taycan as its first dedicated battery-electric vehicle.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquired Bugatti Rimac (joint venture stake)
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche acquired Bugatti Rimac (joint venture stake).
Source: en.wikipedia.orgPorsche AG IPO
Porsche AG listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under CEO Oliver Blume, who simultaneously ran parent Volkswagen Group.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgProfit Collapses on EV Writedown
Porsche reworked its EV-first product plan; full-year operating profit fell to ~$467 million (EUR413 million) on revenue of ~$41 billion (EUR36.27 billion), with China deliveries down 26%.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMichael Leiters Becomes CEO
Dr. Michael Leiters became Chairman of the Executive Board effective January 1, 2026, ending Oliver Blume's dual role running both Porsche and Volkswagen Group.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgH1 2026 Profit Recovery and Future Package
First-half operating profit rose 34% to ~$1.53 billion (EUR1.35 billion); Porsche outlined about $2.37 billion (EUR2.1 billion) of site investment and around 5,000 job reductions by the mid-2030s.
Source: newsroom.porsche.comMajor Acquisitions
MHP
Management and IT consultancy majority-owned by Porsche, giving the group in-house digital and process consulting capability.
Bugatti Rimac (joint venture stake)
2021Porsche took a 45% stake in Bugatti Rimac, with Rimac Group holding 55%, and also holds a minority stake in Rimac Group.
Fazua
2022E-bike drive system maker acquired to build Porsche's e-bike components business.
Keep researching Porsche
Porsche Company History FAQ
What are the major historical milestones of Porsche AG since 1931?
Key historical milestones include: 1931 founding by Ferdinand Porsche; 1948 debut of the Porsche 356; 1952 creation of the Porsche Crest; 1963 launch of the well-known 911; 1970 first overall Le Mans victory (Porsche 917); 1996 Boxster turnaround; 2002 launch of the Cayenne SUV; 2019 launch of the all-electric Taycan; and September 2022 historic ~$84.7B (€75B) IPO.
How did the well-known Porsche 917 deliver Porsche's first Le Mans victory in 1970?
In 1970, the Porsche 917K (driven by Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood in the well-known red-and-white Salzburg livery) powered through torrential rain to win Porsche's first overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, cementing Porsche as a leader of endurance motorsport.
How did the 1996 Porsche Boxster save the company from acquisition?
In the early 1990s, Porsche faced near-bankruptcy due to high production costs and low sales. CEO Wendelin Wiedeking launched the mid-engine Porsche Boxster (986) in 1996, sharing identical front architecture with the 996-generation 911, cutting manufacturing costs by 30% and triggering a large financial revival.
What was the major impact of the Porsche Cayenne SUV in 2002?
In 2002, Porsche shocked traditional purists by introducing the Cayenne luxury SUV. Engineered to handle like a sports car while offering off-road capability and family luxury, the Cayenne became an instant global commercial triumph, generating billions in profits that funded sports car engineering.
How did the 2013 Porsche 918 Spyder pioneer the hybrid hypercar era?
Unveiled in 2013, the Porsche 918 Spyder combined a 4.6-liter naturally aspirated V8 with two electric motors to produce 887 hp. It became the first production car in history to break the 7-minute barrier at the Nürburgring Nordschleife (6:57), launching the modern hybrid hypercar era.
What was the significance of the Porsche Taycan unveiling in 2019?
Unveiled simultaneously across three continents on three green energy sites (Niagara Falls, a solar farm in Germany, and a wind farm in China) in September 2019, the Taycan proved that an all-electric vehicle could deliver true Porsche driving dynamics, reproducible acceleration, and 800-volt fast-charging.
How did Porsche celebrate its 75th anniversary of sports cars in 2023?
In 2023, Porsche celebrated 75 years of sports car heritage (1948 to 2023), unveiling the notable Mission X hypercar concept, launching the lightweight 911 S/T (celebrating 60 years of the 911), and achieving record global financial revenues.
What is Porsche's enduring historical contribution to global automotive engineering?
Porsche transformed the automobile: proving that rear-engine physics, lightweight construction, precision turbocharging, all-wheel-drive dynamics, and sustainable electrification can create the world's most emotionally engaging, timeless sports cars.
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