November 2009 Daimler Sustainability Newsletter 2nd Daimler Sustainability Dialogue Contents in brief 3 billion euro investment: Daimler’s clear commitment to the » 2 Exchange of ideas and German locations Groundbreaking in Kecskemét: Production is set to commence in 2012 at » 3 dialogue with stakeholders the new passenger car plant in Hungary Daimler maintains dialogue with its stakeholders throughout the world. In early Employees: November, national and international stakeholders met up with representatives 2,300 young people commence apprentice - » 3 from Daimler at the “Daimler Sustainability Dialogue” for an exchange of ideas and ship – Web-based “Code of Conduct” training critical discussion in matters of sustainability. smart fortwo electric drive: Large-series production will start at the » 4 STUTTGART – By staging this event, it is for determining the Group’s position, and Hambach plant in 2012 Daimler’s intention to acquire practical in - – whenever necessary – as an incentive to sights for further enhancing its sustaina- undertake corrective measures.” Sprinter “BlueEFFICIENCY”: bility performance. The “Daimler Sustaina- New engines and transmissions for greater » 4 bility Dialogue,” established on a long-term The objective of last year’s Sustainability fuel economy and reduced emissions basis, serves to promote regular discussion Dialogue was to get to know the stakehold - Customers: with the Group’s stakeholders. Following ers and to become acquainted with their ex - Daimler opens a new Commercial » 5 the first event of its kind in 2008, the Dia - pectations and demands vis-à-vis Daimler, Vehicle Center – Premiere for logue was held for the second time this year. and thus to derive impulses for further the “TruckWorks” service scheme improving sustainability performance. In the “Economic, ecological, and social respon - dialogue with the stakeholders, key fields of Society: Daimler and UNESCO present the » 5 sibility go hand in hand at Daimler, and sus - activity were defined by Daimler and worked “Mondialogo Engineering Award” tainability is an integral component of our on throughout the year. “Much has already operations,” emphasized Dieter Zetsche, been achieved,” said Zetsche, “although we sues. In five individual working groups, var - Chairman of the Board of Management of are not yet where we want to be in all areas. ious key emphasis topics were discussed Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz On the other hand, this is not surprising in and the outcomes formulated. Cars, in his opening address. He also called view of the high aims that we have deliber - upon all stakeholder groups to contribute ately set ourselves.” Working Group I was concerned with expertise of their own. “Sustainability is a environmental and climate protection . permanent issue,” said Zetsche, “and the The participants in this year’s “Daimler At the focus of attention here were above exchange of information and dialogue with Sustainability Dialogue” concentrated on all the topics of “green premium products” interest groups is crucial as an instrument specific topic areas and clearly defined is - ▸ Continued on page 2 Editorial views; and we took pleasure in continuing in Hungary. And we are of course invest - this dialogue with our stakeholders in ing a great deal in vocational training for 2009. You can find out more about the top - young people – no less than 2,300 ics under discussion and the conclusions trainees set out on their careers with us drawn by the various working groups in this this fall. This bears out the fact that we issue of the Sustainability Newsletter. stand by our principles of sustainable cor - porate management, even in times of cri - Our objective is clearly defined: We have sis. You can find out more in this issue of resolved to be one of the leading auto- our “Daimler Sustainability Newsletter.” motive manufacturers in matters of sus - I wish you interesting reading! Dear reader, tainability. Our sustainability strategy is Sustainability can only be treated in a ho - founded on a balanced blend of global and Thomas Weber listic manner; this calls for both open and local initiatives throughout all business direct dialogue among all parties involved. units. This is borne out to an equal extent Member of the Board of Management of With the Sustainability Dialogue, our com - by our commitment to Germany as an in - Daimler AG with responsibility for Corpo - pany established a new platform in 2008 dustrial location, for example, and by the rate Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars for a more intensive, open exchange of establishment of a new production plant Development 1 Daimler Sustainability Newsletter November 2009 Position and “CO 2 emissions.” The conclusion universities and the German Federal Em - reached by this group was that ecological ployment Office. products should not be defined in terms of “The Dialogue is a “renouncement”: Improved environmental Working Groups III to V examined soci - successful platform” performance must be positioned as a value- etal aspects. Group III discussed the mat - generating factor along with the long- ter of human rights . It was emphasized Martin Jäger, Head of Global External established product characteristics. In here that not even universally valid human Affairs and Public Policy at Daimler addition to product attributes typically rights can take effect if they are hindered associated with the automobile, such as by the respective political systems. Ad - Mr. Jäger, what does the Sustainabil - fuel economy, mobility concepts will also dressing this problem in a coordinated ity Dialogue mean to Daimler? play a significant role. Daimler’s aspiration manner, for example within the framework An enterprise such as is to position its products as the very best of the German Association of the Automo - ours does not oper - in their respective categories. With regard tive Industry (VDA), would be desirable. The ate in a sociopolitical to carbon dioxide, the participants in this group also discussed specific implemen - vacuum. Its world - group were in agreement that an all-en - tation initiatives to ensure human rights wide activities affect compassing approach must take into ac - compliance. Daimler will invite interested a wide variety of count so-called life-cycle analysis in addi - parties to a round-table discussion of coun - stakeholder groups, tion to a purely mileage-based assessment try-specific human rights issues. all of which in turn Martin Jäger of CO 2 emissions. Discussion also centered have diverse expec - on the matter of globally dwindling re - Working Group IV dealt with the ques - tations of Daimler. Our annual Sustain - sources, which – along with the supply of tion of sustainability throughout the ability Dialogue is a central instrument electricity from renewable sources – repre - supplier chain . While the participants for intensifying exchange of ideas with sents one of the major challenges facing agreed that Daimler had already made sig - representatives of politics, civil society, electromobility. nificant progress in this area, they found non-governmental organizations, and that even greater efforts must be under - the sciences – and also for discussion Working Group II dealt intensively with taken in future. One approach could be to of controversial topics. the company’s measures for securing em - develop and establish joint initiatives and ployment against the background of the standards in the automotive industry. An The first Sustainability Dialogue was economic crisis. In this connection, the par - important consideration for participants in held last year. What was new this ticipants dealt critically with the fact that this working group was that sustainability time round? these measures will not be sufficient to management in the supplier chain proves With the first Sustainability Dialogue we overcome structural transformations in the successful when all interest groups co- were breaking new ground and deter - automotive industry. All participants agreed operate and share responsibility. mining high-priority topics. The empha - that social responsibility and economic sis this year was on intensifying our success are not mutually exclusive. In the Community relations was the topic of treatment of these issues, with the aim second part of the workshop, the challenges Working Group V. The conclusion reached of formulating specific approaches to a arising from the demographic shift were here was that while industrial enterprises solution. Five working groups dealt with discussed and assessed on the basis of a cannot assume the role of municipal author - the subjects of the environment, em - practical example from the Bremen plant. ities, they can contribute start-up financing ployees, human rights, purchasing, and Topics such as qualification and training for new projects and assist in the search for community relations. From the outcome of junior staff were likewise discussed at cooperation partners. The aim is a win-win of these discussions we derive impor - Daimler; an agreement was reached regard - situation with mutual benefits for all part - tant principles for further developing ing the intensification of cooperation with ners involved. our corporate activities in a responsi - ble and sustainable manner. This dia - Markets logue with critical stakeholders is thus by no means a mere excuse for an event, but is a creative element of sus - Daimler invests in Germany tainable entrepreneurship. In 2009 and 2010, Daimler is investing about 3