In some regions of China, Porsche and Volkswagen dealerships are experiencing serious operational problems: empty showrooms, delays in making prepayments, and unresolved issues with customer deposits. This is most noticeable in Zhengzhou and Guiyang, where Porsche dealerships have been virtually paralyzed, and customers are complaining about the inability to receive ordered cars and service packages in a timely manner.
On December 25, Porsche China officially apologized, acknowledging operational violations and confirming cooperation with the police and local authorities to resolve the situation and protect consumer rights. In turn, Dong’an Holdings, which manages the affected dealerships, announced a temporary leave for employees and a phased resolution of customer deposit issues. Specific dates for the resumption of work have not yet been announced.
The situation in individual dealer markets coincides with an overall decline in premium car sales in China. Porsche deliveries for the first three quarters of 2025 decreased by 26% to 32,200 vehicles compared to a peak of 95,000 units in 2021. Globally, brand deliveries fell by 6% to 212,500 vehicles, while operating profit for the same period decreased by almost 99% to 40 million euros. China played a key role in the profit decline.
Porsche China CEO Pan Liqi confirmed plans to optimize the dealer network: the number of authorized centers will be reduced from approximately 150 to 120 by the end of 2025 and to 80 by the end of 2026. The goal of the changes is to balance market coverage with operational efficiency, taking into account current market conditions. To date, there are 116 authorized Porsche dealerships operating in the country.
Volkswagen, although it has more than 2,600 dealerships across the country, has also faced local disruptions, affecting only individual facilities in Zhengzhou and Guiyang. Industry experts note the need for increased monitoring of dealer activities and coordination with regulatory authorities to protect consumers and prevent similar situations in the future.
Judging by video footage and customer feedback, showrooms remained empty, and some cars were even taken out overnight. Delays in making prepayments and decisions on service packages are creating serious customer dissatisfaction, which exacerbates the decline in sales in the luxury car segment.
Analysts emphasize that adjusting the dealer network, along with strengthening control and improving customer service, could be a key step in stabilizing Porsche and Volkswagen sales in China.
