In a sudden turn of events, multiple Porsche cars shut down in Russia, reportedly as a result of a satellite-based security system issue. Multiple owners reported that they faced major issues with their Porsches. While some were unable to start the car altogether, others faced a sudden shutdown soon after ignition. A few even claimed they were locked out of their own cars.
Porsche fleet in Russia shuts down due to this reason
Porsche cars shut down in Russia, and various reports attribute the issue to a satellite-based security system. While the investigation is ongoing, a representative for Russia’s largest dealership group claimed that a case of sabotage cannot be ruled out.
The Rolf spokesperson remarked to the RBC news website, “It’s possible this was done deliberately.” However, the aforementioned spokesperson has not presented any formidable evidence (via The Independent).
Interestingly, this issue impacts Porsche models built post-2013. This is because the models are fitted with an anti-theft Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) that automatically shuts the car down in case there’s a loss of satellite connectivity. The VTS interprets the latter as a potential threat or theft.
Notably, German manufacturers suspended commercial operations in Russia after the latter attacked Ukraine in 2022. This has left Russian Porsche owners stranded without any official help from the German team. Interestingly, no other country has reported a mass shutdown of Porsche cars as of writing.
It seems like dealerships have now taken it upon themselves to fix the issue by manually resetting the alarm units.
According to RBC, the Rolf dealership noticed frequent customer complaints and service requests on November 28, and it has only multiplied since then. Rolf’s service director Yulia Trushkova told RBC, “Currently, there is no connection for all models and types of internal combustion engines.” Furthermore, Trushkova stated, “Any vehicle can be blocked. Currently, the blocking can be bypassed by resetting the factory alarm unit and disassembling it. We are continuing to investigate the issue and the mechanics’ options for unlocking the vehicles.”
