Gerhard Porsche, a member of the third generation of the dynasty, has died
He passed away at the age of 88 in St. Lorenz am Mondsee, where he had chosen to retire
Mourning in the historic Porsche family, a leading force in the German motor industry. Gerhard Porsche, son of Ferry Porsche and grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the famous industrial dynasty, died on 30 October at the age of 88 in St. Lorenz am Mondsee, Upper Austria, in the district of Vöcklabruck, on the shores of Lake Mondsee. The news was reported by the Austrian daily *Kronen Zeitung*, which quotes the obituary published by the family.
According to the obituary, Gerhard Porsche passed away ‘surrounded by his beloved family’. The cause of death has not been disclosed. He is survived by his wife Iris, his daughters and other family members. A private farewell ceremony is scheduled to take place on 17 November in Thalgau, Austria. A member of the third generation of the Porsche family , Gerhard was the son of Ferry, who founded the Porsche sports car brand, and the grandson of Ferdinand, the renowned automotive designer who established the design studio in Stuttgart in 1931 from which the historic company would emerge.
He was also the brother of Wolfgang Porsche, aged 83, one of the family’s best-known members. Unlike his brother Wolfgang, Gerhard Porsche had chosen to keep a low profile, staying out of the public and media spotlight. Over the years, he had developed a special bond with the Metnitztal valley in Carinthia, where he had purchased a second home and supported the small town – to which he was deeply attached – through his investments.
The history of the Porsche family is closely linked to the evolution of the global motoring industry. In 1931, Ferdinand Porsche founded an automotive design studio in Stuttgart, together with two partners. After the Second World War, his son Ferry transformed that business into a car manufacturer specialising in the production of sports cars. In 1948, the Porsche 356 was launched – the first car to bear the family name. From that project, one of the world’s most prestigious brands took shape, becoming a symbol of sportiness, luxury and German engineering. Among the most iconic models is the Porsche 911, which remains one of the most iconic cars in international motoring to this day.
