Toyota was involved in the development of Porsche Boxster

Mazda and Toyota were involved in Boxster development

Suddenly, I didn't know at all!

Boxster, an open car that Porsche is proud of. It was related to Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan when this model was developed.

Did you all know?

Yeah, I was the only one I didn't know again ... ^^?

The era when Porsche did not sell

Well, first of all, the era was in 1992.

It seems that this 1992 was the worst year for Porsche, and the number of Porsche sold worldwide in this year is only about 15,000 (By the way)Worldwide Porsche sales in 2020 will exceed 272,000 units).

In this era, the 928 and 968 did not sell as much as expected, and the 911 was also expensive, so it was not a car that sold so well.

Oh yeah, Porsche was selling only these three types of cars at this time.

Confirmed demand for two-seater cabriolet from Mazda's success

Here Porsche had to do something for growth, and at that time Porsche was influenced by the success of Mazda's MX-5 and the subsequent policy making.

Well, Mazda was also involved.

In North America, Mazda's MX-5 was a big success at this time ... I heard that I thought, "Mazda's MX-5? Hmm, don't you know?" I see, this MX-5 is a model that was generally called Miata in North America ← Just at this time, I was not in Japan, so I knew only by the name of Miata But so-called! Roadster in Japan.

Miata, yeah, then I know! !! Roadster, of course I know!

In fact, I have the impression that North America at this time is full of miata.

I remember it was tremendously popular. Miata's popularity was really amazing.

And this insanely popular Miata is a "two-seater open car", and the fact that this car was a hit means that there is demand for the "two-seater open car" itself.

So, from there, Porsche was convinced of the need for a two-seater convertible and started to develop a more affordable two-seater open model.

As a result, the Boxster concept was announced at the 1993 North American Motor Show, and people's expectations for the Boxster model were very high.

Porsche improves efficiency by referring to Toyota's lean manufacturing method / improvement

However, in order for this Boxster concept to be established as a production vehicle, Toyota, a Japanese automobile company, is involved again from here.

Toyota is practicing a production method called "lean production method / improvement", and Porsche learned that.

Wendelin Wiedeking, Porsche CEO of that era (1993), studied this Toyota production system, and many Porsche to understand the myriad inefficiencies in the German production process. It seems that he learned the Toyota method until he came to Japan with the managers.

Immediately after that, in order to carry out the necessary reforms in the Porsche construction in Stuttgart, it seems that a consultant contract was made with a human resource composed of former Toyota employees, and Mr. Wendelin Wiedeking mentioned above said, "Japan that does not speak German. It was very shocking that people were walking around (inside the factory). "

Well, no, that was the one you were asked to do, right? I feel like that ^ ^, and continued, "They are very tough and very positive. We also wanted it," and as a result, former Toyota employees and Porsche have a good synergistic effect. It seems that it went in the right direction.

From Porsche's point of view, learning from a Japanese who can't even speak German, which they don't understand, may have hurt their ego at first, but it may have hurt their ego (Stuttgart factory employees). Is said to have survived.

It was reported that at the end of 1996, it was possible to make a profit for the first time in four years.

No, I was happy as a Japanese person to think that the success of Mazda and the production method learned from Toyota are related to the development of Porsche Boxster.

If you know the background in various ways, you will become even more familiar with it.

And to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Boxster's birth, in 2021 this yearBoxster 25 for saleit was done.

I am also grateful to Mazda and Toyota for the existence of Boxster, a wonderful Porsche two-seater open car.

Source: Boxster at 25: Driving the car that saved Porsche

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