Owners of high-end Porsche cars across Russia have been forced into taking drastic action, including vandalising their own vehicles, after a mysterious nationwide failure left hundreds of them completely immobilised. The issue, suspected by some to be a deliberate act of electronic warfare, has caused chaos for affluent drivers from Moscow to Siberia.
Widespread Failure of Luxury Vehicles
The problems began affecting Porsche models built since 2013, including the prized Cayenne and Panamera ranges. The common factor is the factory-fitted Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), a satellite-based security and alarm module. Drivers reported their cars suddenly locking up, losing power, or refusing to start entirely, leaving them stranded.
Russia's largest dealership, Rolf, warned clients that the situation may have been caused intentionally, despite a lack of concrete proof. The official Russian Porsche importer, Porsche Rusland LLC, confirmed it is investigating a growing wave of complaints. Specialist publication Auto Rambler noted, "The number of complaints continues to grow" and that preliminary assessments rule out inherent design flaws.
Desperate Owners Turn to Extreme Fixes
Faced with non-starting cars, owners and mechanics have been experimenting with radical solutions. One exasperated owner in Novosibirsk, Alexander Rumyankin, shared his successful but destructive fix online: "Thanks everyone for the advice, I got it up and running. I ripped out the GPS antennas." He offered to help other stranded locals.
Service centres have been inundated, with one mechanic reporting over 40 cars arriving on tow trucks in just three days. The suggested fixes vary:
- Disconnecting the car battery for at least 10 hours.
- Disabling or rebooting the VTS unit.
- Jamming, blocking, or completely disabling the satellite alarm function via software.
- Physically removing GPS antennae.
One servicing agent lamented, "I didn't make it to work, and now I'm back here with a Porsche that won't start."
Speculation Points to Deliberate Interference
The leading theory among experts and dealers is that the mass "bricking" results from the blocking of the standard satellite alarm signal. It remains unclear whether this is due to electronic warfare (EW) measures or a signal from the manufacturer itself. The Volkswagen Group, Porsche's parent company, suspended deliveries to Russia following the invasion of Ukraine but was unable to sell its local subsidiaries.
This leaves a significant number of luxury vehicles in the country, now potentially vulnerable to this unexplained disruption. With fixes proving unreliable and the scale of the problem expanding, Russian Porsche owners face an uncertain wait for a permanent solution, as their high-value assets sit uselessly in driveways and repair shops.
