Hundreds of Porsche owners across Russia found themselves stranded in late November when their luxury vehicles suddenly refused to start, transforming expensive sports cars into immovable objects without warning or explanation.
According to sources, the widespread malfunction left drivers bewildered as their Porsches either wouldn’t turn on or, in certain cases, refused to unlock entirely. The scale of the problem became apparent when Rolf, one of Russia’s largest Porsche dealerships, was inundated with calls from frustrated customers seeking answers about why their high-end automobiles had abruptly ceased functioning.
After conducting diagnostic tests, mechanics at Rolf identified the culprit: an apparent disruption to Porsche’s Vehicle Tracking System. This technology, included in most models manufactured after 2013 as part of the Porsche Connect services package, provides navigation assistance and helps owners locate their vehicles in cases of theft or natural disasters. The service requires an annual subscription costing $280.
According to Rolf’s findings, the connection between the cars’ tracking system and Porsche’s satellites had been somehow severed, triggering an engine immobilizer that prevented the vehicles from starting.
The cause of this mass shutdown remains unknown, with speculation ranging from a technical glitch to potential consequences related to Porsche’s decision to withdraw from the Russian market following the conflict in Ukraine. Notably, this problem has not been reported in any other country.
Yulia Trushkova, Rolf’s service director, spoke with Russian news outlet RBC about potential workarounds. “Currently, there is no connection for all models and types of internal combustion engines,” Trushkova explained. “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.”
In a statement to The Register, a Porsche spokesperson acknowledged the incident while confirming its geographic limitation to Russia. The company emphasized its commitment to vehicle security across all markets.
“The cybersecurity of our vehicles is a central concern for Porsche,” the spokesperson said. “Protection against cybersecurity attacks is ensured by comprehensive security processes and technical measures over the entire life cycle of our vehicles. The measures include, among other things, secure software updates, protected communication channels, and regular security tests for the early detection of suspicious activity.”
However, the automaker has not yet provided a definitive explanation for what caused the widespread system failure or offered a timeline for a permanent solution. As investigations continue, affected owners must either wait for official guidance or rely on the temporary workarounds suggested by local service centers.