Daimler: To reinvent the car

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Recently, the development of new energy vehicles in China has aroused widespread media attention. On the one hand, the government actively promotes R&D and production, and on the other, it is a cold market. The new energy automobile industry seems to be facing an embarrassing situation in China. However, judging from international trends, the global auto industry’s enthusiasm for new energy vehicles is increasing. As the inventor of Hyundai Motor Co., Germany, Daimler and Mercedes-Benz, on the occasion of their 125th anniversary, made an intriguing move: the development of electric vehicles with BYD, a Chinese domestic auto company. Recently, Gasgoo.com interviewed Hua Lixin, chairman and chief executive of Daimler Northeast Asia Investment Co., Ltd. For Daimler's advanced strategy in new energy vehicles, he summed up in a classic statement: re-invent the car.

Hualixin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Daimler Northeast Asia Investment Co., Ltd.

Equal emphasis on fuel cells and electric vehicles

Gasgoo.com: With the shortage of traditional fossil energy and the failure to establish a new energy system in a timely manner, global car manufacturers are paying attention to and exploring the development of the future automobile era. What is Daimler's goal for the coming automobile era? What are the other concerns?

Hua Lixin: As the inventor of the automobile, which has already accumulated 125 years of history, Daimler is determined to continue to be the leader in advancing transportation solutions, both now and in the future. In order to ensure the sustainable development and safety of road traffic in the future, we will focus on areas such as safety, comfort, environmental carrying capacity, performance, and design processes in order to meet global trends and developments.

The automobile is the most important and most popular transportation mode in the world. Our ultimate goal is to accurately understand the needs of the future and lay the foundation for development through the innovative concept of building a car. With this belief, we will continue to optimize our vehicles, continue to reinvent the car, and continue to demonstrate its unparalleled luxury to meet customer needs and social trends.

Gasgoo.com: As a high-end automaker, Daimler has already made new energy vehicles one of the main directions for future product development and decided to adopt a three-step gradual development strategy for new energy vehicles. Can you share with us more about your company's global strategy in developing new energy vehicles?

Hualixin: Daimler has formulated a very clear road map for the sustainable development of road traffic in the future. Energy conservation and emission reduction is one of the core strategic aspirations. In order to achieve this blueprint, we proposed a "three-step" strategy: First, optimize the internal combustion engine; secondly, through hybrid technology, ensure that the vehicle's performance is improved while further improving fuel efficiency; and thirdly, realize battery and fuel cell vehicles. "Zero emissions" driving. We firmly believe that this is the right direction for achieving sustainable transportation. Daimler will also try other alternative clean energy sources and continue to explore new areas of research and development.

Gasgoo.com: As far as Daimler is concerned, considering fuel cell vehicles as one of the main directions for future product development is based on considerations. Do you think this can represent the future attitude of international major auto manufacturers to new energy vehicles?

Hua Lixin: In fact, our long-term goal is to achieve "zero emissions" through the popularity of fuel cells or battery vehicles. Such vehicles not only have low driving noise, zero emissions, and low pollution, but also have great market potential due to the economic benefits brought about by their high efficiency, especially in densely populated areas. At present, the first models we have developed have been brought to market and have been on the road, which is enough to prove that we attach great importance to this direction of development.

Through the recent Mercedes-Benz B-class fuel cell vehicle global tour - the world's first fuel cell vehicle global driving activity, we have proved to the world that Daimler has made significant achievements in the field of electric vehicles. Over 30,000 kilometers of long-distance travel, three Mercedes-Benz B-class fuel cell vehicles orbited the earth for a week and returned to Germany smoothly, reflecting our maturity in fuel cell technology and full preparation for mass production. On a global tour of Asia, the team traveled through Shanghai, Beijing and Xi'an in China before arriving at the Kazakhstan border and eventually returning to Germany. Through the B-class global tour of fuel cell vehicles, Mercedes-Benz's fuel cell vehicles demonstrated outstanding performance in driving performance and stability.

Hybrid Power: Milestones on the Road to Zero Emissions

Gasgoo.com: China is one of the most active countries in the world in developing new energy vehicles. How do you view the status quo of new energy vehicles in China?

Hua Lixin: Energy conservation and emission reduction have become a very hot topic in China's auto industry. The Chinese government has set clear targets for new energy vehicles and has issued relevant industry policies and provided financial support for achieving this goal. In the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" just recently announced by the Chinese government, it is clearly stated that new energy is one of the seven emerging countries' strategic industries, which naturally includes new energy vehicles. Therefore, it can be inferred that the Chinese government is vigorously advancing the sustainable development of future traffic.

Gasgoo.com: At present, global automotive companies all regard electric vehicles as the main support direction for new energy vehicles in the future. Prior to this, some companies used hybrid power as the main research direction. As a transitional model, how do you view the future development of hybrid vehicles?

Hualixin: Hybrid vehicles are an important milestone on the road to "zero emissions." For Mercedes-Benz, we have implemented a modular hybrid system platform to meet the different needs of our customers. We have a variety of hybrid systems, they have different performance levels and battery types, with the now common automotive fuel engine, to improve vehicle drivability while reducing emissions. In addition, from the smart start/stop functions that have been achieved in general vehicles to energy recovery functions and pure electric vehicles, our environmental technologies cover many important areas.

We also provide plug-in hybrid systems so that customers can recharge their batteries by simply using an ordinary household electrical outlet, further improving the endurance of electric driving.

Gasgoo.com: Do you think in view of the international trend, what are the bottlenecks (including technology, capital, industrial chain, management, infrastructure, etc.) of new energy vehicles that are urgently needed to break through? What will be the first breakthrough in the future?

Hualixin: The next step for new energy vehicles is whether they can obtain support from various sources and ensure the development of the corresponding infrastructure to meet the widespread adoption and use of electric vehicles. With the further improvement of the infrastructure, the future market for new energy vehicles will have a lot to offer.

Will introduce more "sustainable traffic" models

Gasgoo.com: If your company is developing new energy vehicles, will it adopt the development strategy that is consistent with that of China? Hua Lixin: Yes, this is undoubtedly true. Our goal is to achieve zero-emissions traffic through research and development and the use of new energy sources across borders. The global goal of Mercedes-Benz is to develop “green and luxurious” environmental protection vehicles while maintaining our highest standards of safety, handling, comfort and sports performance.

Gasgoo.com: As it is, what are the most advanced products your company has brought to China? How are Chinese consumers accepting these products?

Hualixin: The BlueEFFICIENCY (Blue Performance) integrated environmental protection technology launched by Mercedes-Benz, through a set of energy-saving and emission-reduction technologies, has effectively reduced the fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while not affecting the excellent performance of vehicles at all. . By integrating and optimizing all aspects of design and technology, from lightweight body construction to optimized aerodynamic design and ECO start/stop functionality, more than 20% fuel savings can be achieved.

In 2009, as soon as the S400 HYBRID entered China, it quickly became one of the best-selling models. This confirms the success of BlueEFFICIENCY's comprehensive environmental technology and its good market acceptance. Due to our firm commitment to sustainable transportation development, we have introduced a number of Mercedes-Benz models equipped with BlueEFFICIENCY integrated environmental technology into China, including core models such as S-Class, E-Class and C-Class. In addition, since the company entered the Chinese market in 2009, the performance of smart products in our urban transportation solutions exceeded our expectation. Sales in China in the first five months of this year have exceeded the total volume of last year.

Gasgoo.com: Please tell us about your company's future development strategy and specific plans in China.

Hualixin: We will continue to fully develop our vehicles and further introduce more "sustainable traffic" models in the Chinese market.

In addition, "Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd." has been approved by the Chinese government in February this year and obtained a business license. Daimler and BYD will jointly launch a new brand for this model. The brand will be jointly owned by Daimler and BYD. We hope to launch a brand-new electric vehicle jointly built by both parties in 2013. At present, our joint venture is making gratifying progress. At the R&D center in Shenzhen, teams of engineers, designers and other experts from China and Germany have already started close cooperation.