German sports car maker Porsche abandoned plans to expand its test track in southern Italy after environmental protests.
The company announced Thursday that it had decided not to comply with the development plan. However, the center will remain an important part of Porsche’s development plan, and the Volkswagen subsidiary will continue to test the vehicles in the future.
The company said the decision was the result of a large number of discussions in recent months, including studying the project from a different social, environmental and economic perspective.
“The changing conditions in the global automotive industry played a major role in this decision,” it said. The Stuttgart-based company reported a downturn in profits in mid-March and announced cost-cutting measures.
Since 2012, Porsche has been on the world’s most modern test track, close to the city of Nardò in Puglia, just a few kilometers from the Mediterranean.
It includes a circuit over 12 kilometers and has a diameter of 4 kilometers. Porsche tested the new vehicle on site, covering more than 700 hectares. Other automakers use the location as well.
The expansion plan has attracted the attention of environmentalists and residents. The automaker hopes to invest about €450 million ($485 million) in the project.
Existing tracks will be redeveloped and new tracks will be built. Environmentalists warn that huge landscapes, including woodland, must be sacrificed.
The regional government ordered a temporary cessation of expansion plans last year.
