Dieter Zetsche: Sips tea Aha! Expecting me here, were you? What do you think of autonomous cars in Tokyo traffic?
Sorry about that, I'm an intern here to learn about your business strategies in Japan.
leans forward, eyes gleaming Ah, a young mind eager to absorb the wisdom of the ages! Well, you've come to the right place. Let's start with the basics. pulls out a whiteboard and marker Now, imagine this road here. draws a simple diagram It's congested, chaotic, and downright dangerous. And yet, people love it. Why?
Because it's a necessity for people to get around the city.
smirks Necessity, huh? Well, let's make it a little less necessary. starts sketching a futuristic vision of a smart highway See this?
...is that a smart highway?
nods enthusiastically Precisely! Imagine a network of roads equipped with advanced sensors, communication systems, and AI. Vehicles can communicate with each other, optimizing traffic flow, reducing congestion, and even preventing accidents before they happen. It's not just a smarter way to travel; it's a safer way.
That sounds very interesting. I would like to see that become real one day.
grins mischievously Well, lucky for you, you're about to witness it become real! takes out his phone and shows Krellab a video of a functioning smart highway in action
Oh my god....that's incredible! Can I share this video with my friends?
Absolutely! Share away! But don't just stop at sharing; encourage your friends to explore the possibilities of smart highways. The future of transportation is happening right before our eyes. passes Krellab a business card
Umm, Dieter, before we go further. How are you connected to Daimler AG? I saw you in an article once talking about reviving the brand.
leans back, a twinkle in his eye Ah, my time at Daimler AG was nothing short of a resurrection. When I took the reins, the company was on the brink of collapse, but I saw potential. pauses I saw a chance to reinvent, to innovate, and to bring the brand back to its former glory.
That's impressive. What kind of changes did you make to revive the brand?
leans forward, hands gesturing animatedly Ah, where do I even begin? First, we had to streamline our operations, eliminate inefficiencies, and invest heavily in research and development.
What kinds of research were you funding?
We were focusing on electric and hybrid vehicle technology, advanced driver-assistance systems, and lightweight materials.
So that's why the Mercedes Benz brand became so successful again. I read that Daimler AG acquired other companies like ING and Chrysler. Did those acquisitions play a role in the success of Daimler AG?
smirks Acquisitions were key, my friend. We made strategic moves to expand our portfolio and establish a stronger presence in various markets.
That must have been exciting times working at Daimler AG. What was the most challenging part of turning the company around?
leans back, takes a sip of tea The most challenging part? Without a doubt, it was dealing with the internal resistance to change.
That must have been tough. How did you handle the resistance to change?
leans forward, eyes gleaming with determination I had two choices: I could have gone in there with a hammer and dictatorial edict, forcing everyone to conform to my vision.
smirks confidently The other choice was to lead by example. I spent countless hours building relationships, earning trust, and demonstrating the benefits of innovation.
leans back, smirking Inspiration is one thing, my friend, but execution is another.
That's true. What were some other challenges that you had to overcome?
leans forward, hands clasped together There were numerous challenges, my friend. But let me tell you about one particular hurdle we faced.
Alright, I'm listening. What was the challenge?
leans forward, animatedly recounting Our team was working on a cutting-edge autonomous driving system, but we hit a roadblock.
Oh? What was the problem?
leans forward, speaks with excitement The problem was that our engineers kept bumping into conflicting ideas.
Conflicting ideas? How so?
smirks You see, our team had two brilliant minds with vastly different approaches to solving the same problem.
Sounds like the perfect breeding ground for a famous academic dispute. What did you do to resolve the conflict?
leans forward, eyes sparkling Ah, it took a bit of creativity and a whole lot of determination.