STUTTGART, Germany, July 26 (Reuters) - German luxury sportscar maker Porsche said on Friday unit sales for its business year ending July would be slightly lower than the previous year, but profits would remain stable.
A spokesman said full-year sales would drop slightly as the company sold fewer of its entry-level Boxster cars, which earn it smaller profit margins than the flagship 911 sportscar, in line with expectations.
He said Porsche had sold 20,000 Boxsters in 2001-2002 versus 28,000 the previous year, but gave no figures for 911s. In its 2000-2001 business year, Porsche had sold 54,486 Boxsters and 911s.
The company also confirmed comments by Chief Executive Wendelin Wiedeking who told Saturday's edition of the Stuttgarter Zeitung: "We will, as forecast, at least match the record profit recorded last year. At least."
The company posted a net profit of 270 million euros ($267 million) in 2000-2001, its seventh consecutive record year.
Porsche is to introduce a sports utility vehicle called the Cayenne later this year. It is hoping to sell 25,000 Cayennes a year and expand out of the traditional sports car business.
Shares in the firm were trading 2.44 percent up at 429.75 euros by 1539 GMT.