Porsche

Before founding his own company, Ferdinand Porsche designed the Lohner-Porsche electric car in 1898. It was unveiled at the Paris World Fair and is widely considered the first functional hybrid and electric vehicle. It utilized electric wheel-hub motors rather than a central combustion engine.

In the 1930s, Ferdinand Porsche's engineering office designed the Volkswagen Beetle (originally the KdF-Wagen) under a commission from the German government. The iconic, air-cooled rear-engine layout became the foundation for the original Porsche 356 sports car. Porsche and Volkswagen have shared engineering DNA ever since.

Porsche holds the outright record for the most wins as a manufacturer at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, securing over 19 victories. Their first win came in 1970 with the legendary Porsche 917, and they continue to compete in the top hypercar classes today. They are widely considered the most successful manufacturer in endurance racing.

The Porsche Taycan, launched in 2019, is the brand's first fully electric production vehicle. It features an 800-volt architecture, allowing for incredibly fast charging and establishing Porsche's presence in the high-performance EV market. It directly competes with the Tesla Model S.