Porsche U.S. Sales Up in March

FRANKFURT, April 1, 2003; Reuters reported that Porsche, the world's most profitable carmaker, said on Tuesday it had sold 2,281 vehicles in North America in March, up 23 percent from a year ago.

Porsche said the sales growth was due entirely to its new Cayenne sports utility vehicle and that sales of its 911 and Boxster models had dropped 26 percent from the year earlier.

It said it had sold 899 Cayennes, introduced to North America in mid-March.

The company cut production of its 911 and Boxster sportscars last month as demand slides in Germany and the United States, although it is hoping its recently launched Cayenne sports utility vehicle will lift unit sales by 20 percent this year.