From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

US automotive manufacturer Tesla’s South African partner, Rubicon Group brought the first Tesla Model X Performance Edition all-electric sports utility vehicle into the country to raise renewable energy’s profile in the country. Simone Liedtke, who saw a demonstration of the vehicle, tells us more.

Simone Liedtke:

In a move which Rubicon believes to be indicative that the combination of a high-performance car and highly efficient green buildings “is powering greater awareness of positive ecological change”, the company brought the very first Tesla-vehicle to South African shores earlier this year.

This, Rubicon Group’s director of Energy & E-Mobility, Greg Blandford, said was to “raise renewable energy’s profile in the country”.

He provided more insight into the company’s renewable energy footprint, and it’s partnership with Growthpoint.

Rubicon Director of Energy & E-Mobility Greg Blandford:

Simone Liedtke:

Rubicon Director of Energy & E-Mobility Greg Blandford:

Sashnee Moodley:

Rubicon Group and Growthpoint Properties have joined forces to highlight the environmental advantages of making use of renewable energy to provide some of the power requirements of buildings, such as Growthpoint’s 144 Oxford, in Rosebank, north of the Johannesburg central business district.

Simone Liedtke, who visit the building, tells us more.

Simone Liedtke:

By providing environment-friendly features at buildings in its portfolio, Growthpoint sustainability and utilities head Grahame Cruickshanks said that it allows the company to future-proof its buildings and meet the mounting demand for green buildings in South Africa.

Growthpoint’s 144 Oxford is a good example of this, and Cruickshanks tells us more.

Growthpoint Sustainability and Utilities Head Grahame Cruickshanks:

Simone Liedtke:

US automotive manufacturer Tesla’s South African partner, Rubicon Group, and Growthpoint Properties have further also joined forces to raise renewable energy’s profile in the country by bringing the first Tesla Model X Performance Edition all-electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) into the country.

Cruickshanks also acknowledged that EVs were “very much a part of the future transport scenario in South Africa and the rest of the world”, and elaborated on some of the Rosebank building’s features for EVs.

Growthpoint Sustainability and Utilities Head Grahame Cruickshanks:

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy. Don’t forget to listen to the audio version of our Engineering News daily email newsletter.