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Hundreds of Porsches Across Russia Immobilized by Suspected Anti-Theft System Fault

Porsche says the Russia‑specific setup lies outside its remit, as inquiries continue.

Overview

  • Owners from cities including Moscow and Krasnodar report engines that cut out or refuse to start, with all model lines potentially affected since late November.
  • Dealers such as Rolf are restoring drivability by resetting or removing the Vehicle Tracking System, while some owners report only brief relief after disconnecting the battery.
  • Porsche states other markets are unaffected and characterizes the problem as tied to country‑specific configurations, noting limited after‑sales support since its 2022 market exit.
  • The root cause remains unconfirmed, with hypotheses ranging from GPS disruptions to software or malicious interference; Rolf says sabotage cannot be ruled out.
  • Local reports mention similar issues among some Mercedes‑Benz owners in Russia, though those cars reportedly remain usable.