Stuttgart might be preparing to swallow Pfaffenhausen.
According to a report from German outlet, WirtschaftsWoche, Porsche executives and Ruf Automobile owner Alois Ruf are in deep talks regarding a full acquisition. Insiders claim Porsche wants to use the legendary boutique manufacturer as an exclusive sub-brand, and the takeover is said to be imminent. Keep in mind, this isn’t the first time this rumor has floated around.
While Porsche and Ruf vehicles often share a silhouette, Ruf has maintained its status as an independent, government-recognized manufacturer for decades.
The rumors arrive at a complicated time for Porsche.
The automaker is recalibrating its long-term portfolio, following cooler-than-expected global demand for pure electric models and shifting consumer interest back toward high-revving gas engines, especially at the higher echelons of the luxury market. Acquiring a low-volume house like Ruf could give Porsche a shortcut to a pipeline for ultra-exclusive sporty specials.
Interestingly, WiWo also alleges that Ruf was not Porsche’s initial target. Stuttgart reportedly approached California-based Singer Vehicle Design first, though the Americans were apparently not interested.
Unlike Singer, which builds custom air-cooled machines from donor Porsche 964 chassis, Ruf engineers its own cars to modern spec-like the CTR Anniversary, SCR, and newly released Ehra-around a proprietary carbon-fiber monocoque tub.
That architecture could give Porsche an off-the-shelf foundation for hyper-exclusive, factory “restomod” projects without interfering with standard 911 production lines in Zuffenhausen. Neither Porsche nor Ruf Automobile has issued official statements confirming the talks.
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