Porsche Wants To Expand Into Africa, Sell More Than 200,000 Vehicles By 2020

The Porsche AG unit of Volkswagen AG (FRA:VOW) has established some lofty sales goals for the end of the decade, and the company is looking to expand into new territories, setting its sights on Africa. As part of its plan, Porsche wants to have a presence in 15 new countries by 2020 and surpass the 200,000 mark for vehicles sold per year by 2015 or 2016.

Bloomberg News reported on Porsche’s expansion plans as the company opened its largest dealership in Shanghai. The firm did not divulge the specific markets that were being targeted, but Bernhard Maier, head of Porsche’s sales and marketing, did say North Africa would be a priority. In addition to opening new national markets, the company plans to raise its number of dealerships globally, to 100 by 2016 from 57 this year. The launch of the Macan, a compact SUV, next year is expected to help increase the firm’s sales totals.

Porsche has been teasing the Macan and it could unveil the vehicle at the LA Auto Show between Nov. 22 and Dec. 1. The model also could make an appearance at the Tokyo Motor Show, which runs concurrently with the LA Auto Show. Porsche’s new compact SUV could come in two versions, the Macan S, priced at $52,000, and the Macan Turbo, priced at $75,000.

During the first nine months of this year, Porsche reported a 15 percent increase in deliveries. From January to September, the company sold 120,000 vehicles, with 31,549 of them in the U.S. and 27,458 of them in China. According to Porsche, the 911 was its most popular car in the U.S. and the Cayenne SUV was its most popular vehicle internationally last month. The company hopes to increase the 911’s popularity worldwide, with Bloomberg News quoting Porsche China CEO Deesch Papke as saying, “We’re extremely successful and delighted that our customers have accepted Cayenne, Panamera, and our sports cars already, but we would like to institutionalize the sales of 911 stronger.”