Porsche Communication Management (PCM)
A 2-DIN head unit with CD navigation from the late-1990s 911 (996), with a touchscreen from 2008 and multi-touch from 2015.
- Maker
- Years
- Versions
- Cars
- Input
Porsche Communication Management covers audio, navigation, telephone and, later, connected services. It was first offered as an option on the 996 911 and the 986 Boxster, switched to touchscreen operation with the revised 2008 unit (commonly called PCM 3.0), and reached multi-touch with PCM 4.0 in the 2015 911. Porsche counts the 2021 system as the sixth generation (PCM 6.0) and announced another revision, with new hardware, for the model-year change in March 2025.
Versions
| Version | Years | Display | Input | Operating system | First car | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCM 1 | 1997–2002 | 5-inch | Buttons | Not recorded | 911 (996) (earliest in the archive) | 1, 2, 3 |
| PCM 2 | 2002 | Not recorded | Buttons | Not recorded | 911 (996) (earliest in the archive) | 1, 3, 4 |
| PCM 2.1 | 2005 | Not recorded | Buttons | Not recorded | 911 (997) (earliest in the archive) | 5, 6, 7 |
| PCM 3.0 | 2008 | 6.5-inch | Touchscreen, buttons | Not recorded | 911 (997) (earliest in the archive) | 6, 8, 9 |
| PCM 3.1 | 2009 | Not recorded | Touchscreen, buttons | Not recorded | 911 (991) (earliest in the archive) | 6 |
| PCM 4.0 | 2015 | 7-inch | Touchscreen, voice, buttons | Not recorded | 911 (991) | 10, 11, 12 |
| PCM 5 | 2017 | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | 11, 13, 14 |
| PCM 6.0 | 2021 | 10.9-inch | Touchscreen, voice, buttons | Not recorded | 911 (992) (earliest in the archive) | 15 |
| PCM (2025 revision) | 2025 | 10.9-inch | Touchscreen, voice, buttons | Not recorded | 911 (992) (earliest in the archive) | 16 |
The table scrolls sideways.
Cars fitted
Photos
Version notes
PCM 1
- First factory-orderable CD navigation with a road-map display in a Porsche, offered on the 996 911 and 986 Boxster in 2-DIN format.
- CD-based navigation with a map display on a 5-inch 4:3 screen.
- Listed as option M662 on 1997–2002 cars.
- Replaced by PCM 2 from September 2002.
PCM 2
- Second generation, delivered from September 2002 with a widescreen 16:9 display.
- Also called PCM 2.0; fitted to the 996 and 986.
- Harman Becker later supplied the complete PCM system.
- Also fitted to the first Cayenne.
PCM 2.1
- Revised second-generation 2-DIN unit in the 2005–2008 911 (997), the 2005–2008 Boxster and Cayman (987) and the 2003–2008 Cayenne.
- PCM 2.1 is the name owners and retailers use.
- Map discs for PCM 2.1 cover 2005–2008.
PCM 3.0
- Introduced in the 911 with the 2008 997 facelift.
- All functions operated through a 6.5-inch touchscreen LCD; DVD drive.
- Optional hard-drive navigation, Bluetooth phone module and a TV tuner that works only when the car is stationary.
- PCM 3.0 is the retailers' name; its maps cover 2009–2012.
PCM 3.1
- PCM 3.0 and 3.1 between them cover the 991 911 (2011–2016), the Panamera (2009–2013), the Macan (2014–2016) and the Cayenne (2007–2017).
- PCM 3.1 maps cover 2009–2015.
PCM 4.0
- Premiered as standard equipment in the updated 911 Carrera range (991.2) in late 2015, with other Porsche model lines to follow step by step.
- 7-inch multi-touch screen that recognises swipe, pinch and rotate gestures and lets the driver write destinations with a finger.
- Apple CarPlay (iPhone 5 or later), online search including points of interest and real-time traffic via an integrated LTE module.
- Fitted to the model-year 2017 718 (982), 911 (991), Panamera (971), Macan (95B) and Cayenne (92A).
PCM 5
- Named PCM 5 in the third-generation Cayenne (2017), with a 12.3-inch full-HD touchscreen.
- Proximity sensors bring up submenus as a finger approaches, handwriting and voice input are supported, and the touchscreen also controls air conditioning and driver assistance settings.
- The same screen generation appeared first in the second-generation Panamera of 2016.
PCM 6.0
- Sixth generation of PCM, launched in the 911, Cayenne and Panamera in summer 2021.
- Android Auto for the first time, plus wireless Apple CarPlay.
- Voice Pilot understands natural-language instructions; Apple Music and Apple Podcasts built in.
- Software can be updated over the air.
PCM (2025 revision)
- Fundamentally revised PCM with new, more responsive hardware for the 911, Taycan, Panamera and Cayenne from the model-year change announced in March 2025.
- Porsche App Center, Amazon Alexa alongside Porsche Voice Pilot in selected markets, and Dolby Atmos with Bose or Burmester premium audio.
Sources
- 1.Porsche 996
- 2.In the style of the times: Porsche Classic Communication Management
- 3.Technical Information 56/20: Porsche Classic Communication Management Plus (PCCM Plus), 911 (996) and Boxster (986)
- 4.Porsche Cayenne
- 5.Porsche Classic Communication Management Plus for retrofitting
- 6.Porsche PCM: Everything You Need to Know
- 7.Summary of PCM2.1 updates (forum thread)
- 8.Porsche 997
- 9.Porsche 911 (997)
- 10.Keeping in Touch (Christophorus 374)
- 11.Technical Information 182/22: Restoring PCM Enabling Function (PCM 4.0)
- 12.Porsche 911 (2015-2018) review - Interior, design and technology
- 13.Digital evolution: Porsche Advanced Cockpit and new PCM
- 14.PCM 5.X (Porsche Communication Management) – Porsche Cayenne
- 15.New Porsche infotainment: knows more, does more and is a better listener
- 16.Porsche is modernising its PCM: greater performance and new features
Related
Photo credits
Photo credits (10)
- Porsche 911 (997), centre display, 1 of 2“2008 Porsche 911 C2S Cabriolet - Flickr - The Car Spy (6)” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: The Car Spy · CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
- Porsche 911 (996), centre display“2003 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S - Flickr - The Car Spy (10)” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: The Car Spy · CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
- Porsche 911 (997), cockpit“P911 Speedster Cockpit” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: KarleHorn · CC BY-SA 3.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
- Porsche 911 (991), cockpit, 1 of 2“Geneva MotorShow 2013 - Porsche 911 Carrera 4 stearing wheel” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Clément Bucco-Lechat · CC BY-SA 3.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
- Porsche 911 (991), cockpit, 2 of 2“Porsche 991 Targa 4S GTS Targa Cockpit” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: KarleHorn · CC BY 3.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
- Porsche 911 (992), cockpit, 1 of 3“Porsche 992 Turbo S Cabriolet, Auto 2025, Zurich (20251029-P1074410)” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Matti Blume · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
- Porsche 911 (992), cockpit, 2 of 3“P992 Cockpit” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: KarleHorn · CC BY 3.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
- Porsche 911 (996), cockpit“2005 Porsche 911 GT3 - Flickr - The Car Spy (3)” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: The Car Spy · CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
- Porsche 911 (992), cockpit, 3 of 3“GIMS 2019, Le Grand-Saconnex (GIMS0973)” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: Matti Blume · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons
- Porsche 911 (997), centre display, 2 of 2“2006 Porsche 911 (997) Turbo - Flickr - The Car Spy (15)” (opens in a new tab) · Photo: The Car Spy · CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab) · Wikimedia Commons