Kulim, Kedah 7th February 2025 – Together with Porsche AG, Porsche Malaysia represented by Sime Darby Auto Performance, and Inokom Corporation Sdn Bhd, Porsche Asia Pacific launched an environmental protection program for school children at a local public elementary school.

"As with the previous stops of Join the Porsche Ride, our goal is to foster empowerment through education. We encourage our students to be the agents of change within their families and communities," said Hannes Ruoff, CEO of Porsche Asia Pacific.

The focus of the program, implemented with the support of the Malaysian NGO Free Tree Society and named "Sahabat Lestari", is not only on environmental protection qualification but also on establishing responsible behavior and integrating it into everyday school life.

“Together, we aim to make a tangible difference by striving to generate positive environmental and social impacts while fostering change through collective efforts,” added Christopher Hunter, CEO of Sime Darby Auto Performance.

Anchoring the activities in the school allows the children not only to integrate what they have learned into their personal lives and families but also aims to expand the elementary school into a recycling hub for the community.

About Free Tree Society

Free Tree Society is a Malaysian non-governmental organization dedicated to environmental protection. The goal is to raise awareness of the need for environmental protection in Malaysia and to convey the first steps towards a more sustainable life. Various programs aim to accelerate and improve the development of a more responsible mindset and culture in Malaysia. In addition to gardening and planting workshops, topics such as waste management, rainwater harvesting, forest conservation, and biodiversity are among the topics that Free Tree Society regularly discusses with the community, which includes businesses, students of all ages, and the general public.

About "Join the Porsche Ride"

"Join the Porsche Ride" is a social initiative launched by Porsche, visiting various destinations on five continents worldwide. As part of the sustainability strategy field "Partner of Society," it is about taking social responsibility and launching educational and support programs tailored to local needs—all using the all-electric Taycan as an ambassador. The power of the Taycan can also be seen symbolically here. The initiative aims to protect the environment, create good working and living conditions, and strengthen social cohesion. The first station of "Join the Porsche Ride" was in 2022 at the Porsche site in Leipzig. This was followed by stops in Switzerland, France, South Africa, China, and Brazil.

About Sime Darby Auto Performance Sdn. Bhd.

Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) is a subsidiary of the Motors Division of Sime Group. SDAP is the authorised importer of Porsche in Malaysia since 2010, and distributes Porsche vehicles and parts, and provides After Sales services for Porsche vehicles in Malaysia through its Porsche Centres nationwide - namely, Porsche Centre Ara Damansara; one of the largest Porsche Centres in a single facility within the Porsche Asia Pacific region, Porsche Centre Sungai Besi, Porsche Centre Penang, and Porsche Centre Johor Bahru. Porsche Centre Johor Bahru pioneers the first 4S facility in the Asia Pacific region integrating Sales, Services, Spare parts with Body & Paint facility and Malaysia’s first certified Classic Partner.

Sui Keng Huat, Managing Director of Inokom Corporation Sdn Bhd, also praised the program: "The multi-stage approach not only creates a special learning experience but also a connection to the community and society."

It is also planned to expand the program to various locations across Malaysia in 2025. Carolyn Lau, Managing Director of Free Tree Society, is already looking forward to further collaboration: "Together with all partners, we will achieve measurable results and successes and thus make a valuable contribution to environmental protection in Malaysia."

About Porsche Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

Porsche Asia Pacific Pte Ltd is a subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, the leading sports car manufacturer based in Stuttgart, Germany. Best known for the 911 model line, Porsche also manufactures the Cayenne, Macan, Panamera, 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman models. In 2019, it introduced the Taycan, its first fully-electric sports car.

Porsche Asia Pacific commenced operations on 1 October 2001 and currently oversees 13 countries from its headquarters in Singapore: Brunei, Cambodia, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

As a market incubator, it offers support to its importers and dealers in After Sales, Business Development, Marketing, New Business Fields, Public Relations and Sales, helping them to further professionalise operations and cater to customer needs to ultimately grow their business. The recently announced Porsche Experience Centre Singapore is the 11th such location in the world, and the first to be designed from the outset to cater to a local and regional community of customers and fans, scheduled to open in 2027.

About Inokom Corporation Sdn. Bhd.

Inokom Corporation Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of Sime Motors, is involved in the assembly of passenger cars, multi-utility vehicles, multi-purpose vehicles and commercial vehicles. The manufacturing facility first commenced production in 1997 in Pahang Meha, Kulim, occupying 200 acres of freehold land. Driven by 100% Malaysian talent, predominantly from the local community, Inokom showcases exceptional capabilities in the global automotive industry. The partnership between Inokom and Porsche began in 2022 with the local assembly of the Cayenne, marking the first CKD (Completely Knocked Down) operations for Porsche outside Europe.

Heinz Alexy, Vice President Supply Chain Management and External Production, was also delighted: "We have created a social project that not only inspires future generations but also empowers and prepares them for future challenges."

In workshops, the topics are initially introduced to the students in an age-appropriate manner. The heart of the program, among other things, includes the planting of a school's own mini jungle, which will then be maintained and cared for by the school community.

Further, as part of a 30-day challenge, the students are challenged to recycle various materials from everyday school life, such as paper and plastic. After participating, the students will receive a certificate as an "Eco-Ambassador."