PORSCHE is not new to redefining boundaries. The German auto manufacturer, which has given the world some of the fastest and iconic sports cars, is racing towards an ambitious new goal. It intends to become carbon-neutral across its entire value chain and lifecycle of new vehicles by 2030.

The target is way ahead of its competitors — Jaguar Land Rover which eyes 2039; General Motors — 2040; and Ford — 2050.

Elízabeth Solís, public relations manager Porsche Latin America, shared the company’s vision with the Jamaica Observer‘s weekly Auto magazine during at a visit to Porsche Latin America, Inc, located on Biscayne Boulevard in Miami, Florida, a week ago.

“Porsche has a clear goal of being sustainable. We are aligned with the Paris [Climate] Agreement and we believe in this, so we’re working in different areas to achieve it. Of course, Taycan is one of the examples — it is sustainable from the moment it starts production to the moment it finishes its lifecycle, and that’s only one example. And it’s carbon neutral because it’s an electric sports car — our first electric car,” she told Auto in an exclusive interview.

Launched in 2019, Porsche’s Taycan (pronounced Tie-kan) is the world’s first fully electric sports car. It is outfitted with a 93.4 kWh battery and allows the Taycan to cover 237 to 280 miles, and can go from 0 to 60 mph in as little as 2.6 seconds.

“The Taycan’s battery is also an important thing to mention. It’s designed to be repairable and reusable, so it doesn’t end with the lifecycle of the vehicle,” said Solís.

According to Solís, Porsche is investing €1,000,000 in its vision and has broken ground this year for a sustainable plant in Chile.

She said suppliers are an integral part of the move.

“We’re working with our suppliers in making the production of the parts carbon neutral. And, on other the hand, we’re working on different projects and investing money in sustainable and renewable energy to produce our vehicles — that also translates into projects which will unfold in upcoming years in our dealerships and, of course, in Jamaica… that’s one of the goals as well,” said the public relations manager of Porsche Latin America. “In Jamaica, as far as I understand, my colleague Christina [Taylor] has said they already have solar panels…that’s one great step but we’re looking for more steps in the future.

Taylor, public relations manager for Porsche Jamaica, expanded on the local efforts.

“We are looking at more sustainable measures…we have always been sustainable an example is our showroom, we utilised solar for sure, but we are looking at more ways in which we can become more sustainable,” said Taylor.

Porsche is distributed locally by ATL Motorsport, part of the Adam Stewart-led Automotive Group.

According to a news release from Porsche, since 2017, Porsche is using certified electricity from renewable energy at all its production facilities. All the electricity used in the Leipzig factory building is from renewable sources while new buildings are energy efficient. The company generates heat in its own combined heat and power (CHP) plants, which are operated with biogas produced from residual materials and waste.

And while Porsche continues to invest in electromobility, the company has also teamed up with Siemens and several other energy companies to develop synthetic, climate-neutral fuels (e-fuels) that it says will allow older Porsche models to stay on the road for longer… sustainably.

At Porsche’s Leipzig factory, the German Sustainable Building Council has presented it with its highest award — the Platinum certificate — as an exceptionally sustainable industrial site. It is fully powered by renewable energy sources, including using photovoltaic plants that produce the equivalent of 4380 megawatt hours each year, which is used in the making of Panamera and Macan bodies. The production plant in Zuffenhausen has been CO2 neutral since 2020, while the facilities in Leipzig and Weissach joined them in this landmark achievement at the beginning of 2021.