Daimler makes its managers drive hybrid and electric cars. Plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles will become actually its company cars. The German automaker established a new policy this week that will require top managers to drive electrified company cars—as opposed to gas-powered vehicles—to set an example and provide a clear role model.
The company believes that electric cars have much more responses than usual models.
Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz, announced it would invest another 30 million euros ($33 million) to expand its own charging infrastructure across its offices and facilities. They work now on making more EVs. The company has already installed 556 charging points for managers and employees just in the Stuttgart area. Zetsche likes Germany's goal of 1 million EVs on the road by 2020, but he doesn't believe that subsidies (such as tax breaks in the US) are the way to make that happen. They represent a short-term "bridging function" that won't last long, he says. While it's doubtful that Zetsche will turn down discounts that come his way, he's clearly putting more trust in technological solutions.
For those who are interested which models will they drive! The Top managers will have the option of driving the S 500 e, the C 350 e in Saloon, the GLE 500 e 4MATIC, the GLC 350 e 4MATIC, and the new E-Class 350 e, which was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.
