Booming Cayenne SUV sales pushed up Porsche sales 18.2 per cent in the first nine months of the fiscal year. The Cayenne gains made up for a drop in Boxster and 911 demand and pushed sales up to 3.89bn euros compared to 3.29bn euro last year.

Porsche sold 8,363 Cayennes during that period, while sales of the Boxster fell 12.5 per cent, and the 911 dipped 6.8 per cent.

Weakened consumer confidence was especially felt in the sports car segment, the company said in a statement.

Porsche says it is still on target to sell 65,000 cars this fiscal year.