German luxury sports car manufacturer Porsche reported a 16% decline in global vehicle deliveries during the first nine months of 2026, as weakening demand in China and changes to its model lineup continued to affect sales.

The company said deliveries in China plunged 33% through September, reflecting persistent challenges in one of its key markets. North America, Porsche’s largest sales region, recorded a 13% decline, while deliveries in Europe excluding Germany fell 11%.

Porsche attributed the downturn partly to the phase-out of its 718 model range and its strategy of prioritising brand value and exclusivity over sales volume.

The company aims to strengthen its appeal through desirable sports cars, specialised models and expanded personalisation options.

Despite the overall decline, the iconic Porsche 911 continued to perform strongly. Global deliveries of the model increased 12% to 42,217 vehicles during the nine-month period, highlighting continued demand for the brand’s established sports car lineup.

Porsche said third-quarter deliveries remained consistent with trends recorded during the first half of 2026.

The wider luxury automotive industry is also facing pressure from subdued Chinese demand. Rival Mercedes-Benz reported an 8% decline in third-quarter car sales, citing challenging market conditions in China, although its electric vehicle sales increased.

Porsche faces continued pressure to balance profitability, exclusivity and global demand as competition intensifies and consumer conditions remain challenging. The resilience of the 911 offers a positive signal amid the broader sales slowdown.