Porsche 718 Models are Dead in Europe Thanks to Cybersecurity Regulations

Sales of the GT4 RS and Spyder RS will continue, but all other 718 models will no longer be available to European buyers.

As first reported by Motor1 the Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman will be unavailable throughout the European Union. After reading that sentence you may assume that the reason behind the 718 models being pulled is due to emissions regulations. That is not the case, although regulations do play a part. It is cybersecurity regulations that are sending the 718 to an early retirement. The new cybersecurity regulations come into effect in Europe in July 2024. Once that happens, Porsche will no longer be able to register the cars in the EU. The one sliver of good news is that the GT4 RS and Spyder RS will still be available. It is all the trims below those two that are being eliminated.

Porsche 718 spokesperson Oliver Hilger provided a statement to Motor1 which read in part: “In the European Union and some states that apply EU legislation, the combustion-powered 718 models will not be available indefinitely. The main reason for this is the General Safety Regulation of the European Union (including cybersecurity), to which the platform will not be converted. Any models that do not meet these requirements will no longer be eligible for new registration in the EU after the beginning of July 2024. This applies not only to 718 models with an internal combustion engine, but to all models from all manufacturers, and this regardless of whether it is an e-vehicle or one with an internal combustion engine.”

Are 718 Models Unsecure?

It may be hard to believe but the 718 has been with us for 8 years already. In automotive terms that means it is on the older side. The electrical architecture used on those cars will not meet the updated standards. But that is not to say they are unsecure. Hilger addressed that in the later part of his statement which read: “The processes now required by UN ECE R 155 could not be implemented because they were not yet known and applicable back when the 718 platform was developed. But that doesn’t mean that older vehicles are not, per se, secure. When it comes to current models, we regularly check the cybersecurity of our products and work together with the global security community using a publicly accessible interface.”

What About the GT4 RS and Spyder RS?

The 718 RS models use the same basic electrical architecture as the other 718 models. However, due to the limited production of the RS models, they are exempt from the new cybersecurity regulations. The downside to that is that they will likely be in even higher demand now so these will be nearly impossible to get.

718 Future

The next-generation 718 will go on sale as a 2025 model and will be fully electric. The plan was to sell the EV versions alongside the gasoline versions for a period of time. However, in Europe the only gasoline versions that can be registered after July 1 will be the GT4 RS and Spyder RS models. If you live in the EU and are looking for a standard 718 model you will want to head to your local dealership as soon as possible and try to find a new one in dealer stock that matches your requirements.

Images: Porsche

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.