Porsche Heiress Plans to Explode a Mountain for a Car Cave, Sparking Public Outrage

      Sign up for The Drive Daily

      One of the more unusual issues that has created a divide between residents and politicians in Salzburg, Austria, is not related to crime, pollution, or other typical ballot issues. Instead, it centers around a Porsche heir and a proposal to excavate a tunnel through a mountain designated as public land. The goal? Wolfgang Porsche, grandson of Porsche founder Ferdinand Porsche, seeks to create and access a garage beneath his mansion.

      According to the Wall Street Journal, Ferdinand Porsche acquired his property in 2020 for roughly $9 million. Constructed in the 17th century, it was formerly owned by Austrian author Stefan Zweig. This mansion is part of a select group of structures on the Kapuzinerberg, a wooded hill overlooking downtown Salzburg, near landmarks associated with Mozart, and surrounded by residences where the community values originality and history. Currently, reaching the property necessitates navigating a narrow, winding road. Porsche proposes a bold solution: to construct a cross-shaped garage for 12 cars underneath the house and to excavate a substantial tunnel through the mountain for direct access from downtown.

      Initially, the project progressed smoothly. It received approval from Salzburg’s former mayor in 2024, but criticism intensified after the mayor's office transitioned from a right-leaning to a left-leaning political stance following an election. "What astonishes people is that a private individual can tunnel through the mountain," said Ingeborg Haller, a Green Party official opposing the project, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

      The neighborhood and villa in question. Getty

      Excavating the tunnel necessitates a change to the city’s zoning regulations, which means the council will need to vote on the matter. This vote is anticipated to occur next month, and it remains uncertain how the council will decide. Porsche has proposed several concessions to make the estimated €10 million (around $11.3 million) project more acceptable. He is considering allowing public access to parts of the villa currently under renovation and has even suggested that his neighbors might be permitted to use his private tunnel for their own access.

      This political debate has infiltrated everyday life in Salzburg. Critics contend that Porsche's wealth has allowed him expedited approval for tunneling through public land, contrasting sharply with the prolonged timelines of public tunnel projects aimed at transportation. Another contentious issue is the connection between 81-year-old Porsche and Salzburg Mayor Bernhard Auinger, who previously served on the board of Porsche’s holding company as a labor representative. Auinger has yet to declare his stance on the project and may choose to abstain to avoid any conflicts of interest.

      Nonetheless, opinions on the tunnel project are not universally negative. Some residents support it, while others remain indifferent. “It’s the politics of envy. It’s quite embarrassing in Salzburg when more pressing issues need addressing,” remarked Hans Peter Reitter, a retired bank manager, as reported.

      Have any tips? Share them at [email protected]