Porsche Apologizes After Sudden Shutdown of Henan Flagship Store

German luxury carmaker Porsche has apologized after its largest authorized dealership in central China's Henan Province abruptly shut down, leaving hundreds of customers unable to recover deposits or access paid after-sales services, and prompting local authorities to intervene.

The Zhengzhou Zhongyuan Porsche Center, a 12,000-square-meter flagship dealership, effectively ceased operations overnight, according to multiple media reports. Photos circulating on social media showed an empty showroom with no staff present.

Customers said deposits, maintenance packages and other services purchased from the dealership became unusable after the closure. In a consumer rights protection chat group with more than 300 members, over 200 people have registered complaints, with preliminary estimates putting the total amount involved at more than 1 million yuan (US$140,000).

One buyer told Blue Whale News that he only learned of the shutdown through social media. He said he had paid a 30,000-yuan deposit for a Porsche Cayenne but has since been unable to take delivery, and his sales consultant can no longer be reached.

Employees were also caught off guard. Several staff members told Blue Whale News they had noeen informed in advance of the closure and said the dealership had fallen behind on salary payments for several months.

In a statement, Porsche said it regretted the disruption caused to customers and was working with police and relevant government departments to verify the situation and handle the matter properly.

The company said it would actively push for a resolution and place the protection of consumers' legitimate rights and interests first.

The Zhongyuan District Bureau of Commerce confirmed to Blue Whale News that the dealership has ceased operations and said a special working group has been formed to coordinate the response. The bureau said the incident is linked to the dealer's parent group rather than the Porsche brand itself, and that investigations are ongoing.

Public records show the Zhengzhou Zhongyuan Porsche Center is affiliated with Henan Dong'an Holding Group. The dealership is operated by Zhengzhou Dongbaorun Automobile Sales Co, Ltd, founded in December 2015 with registered capital of 60 million yuan.

Corporate data from Tianyancha show the company has been involved in multiple legal disputes, most of them related to sales contracts.

On December 17, the company changed its legal representative, with its former executive director and general manager stepping down and Yin Shaoliang assuming the role.

Signs of disruption had already emerged online. According to Blue Whale News, the dealership's official Douyin account has been set to private, while its WeChat public account was still being updated as recently as December 21. Calls to publicly listed phone numbers went unanswered.

The abrupt shutdown has also drawn attention to the pressures facing Porsche in China, its largest single market. The brand's sales in China have declined steadily since peaking in 2021, falling 15 percent in 2023 and plunging a further 28 percent in 2024, far steeper than its 3 percent global decline.