Porsche cancels Nardò expansion project, keeps test center operational

Porsche scraps Nardò expansion due to ecological and economic reasons, but the test center remains key to its global R&D. Learn what influenced the decision.

Porsche has officially decided not to proceed with the development plan for the Nardò Technical Center (NTC) in Apulia, southern Italy. The decision follows months of internal reflection and discussions with various stakeholders, with global industry challenges and broader socio-environmental considerations cited as key factors.

Acquired by Porsche Engineering in 2012, NTC serves as a major automotive testing hub, featuring a 12.6-kilometre circular track, a 6.2-kilometre handling course, and a range of advanced testing facilities spread across 700 hectares. The center supports not only Porsche but a wide range of international car manufacturers.

The development plan, originally approved by Apulia's regional authorities in 2023, envisioned new test tracks, a multifunctional visitor center, a medical helipad facility, a wildfire prevention unit, and ecological improvements such as reforestation and pedestrian-cycle corridors. However, in March 2024, the Apulia Region suspended the program agreement necessary for the plan's implementation. The decision has currently paused the project until at least the end of March 2025.

Porsche explained that its decision not to move forward with the expansion stemmed from a comprehensive assessment of current market conditions, environmental and social implications, and a rapidly changing automotive landscape marked by tighter budgets and technological transitions. Despite halting the development, the company reaffirmed its commitment to the site, emphasizing that NTC remains a vital part of its global R&D infrastructure and will continue to support innovative mobility solutions.

This outcome places one of Europe’s most advanced test centers at the intersection of industrial ambition and regional governance. While the suspension alleviates immediate uncertainty, it also reflects a broader trend of aligning long-term growth strategies with sustainability goals and evolving global realities.

Source: porsche.com