Yes, that isn't a misprint, Daimler will be renamed Mercedes-Benz as the result of a massive corporate shift in strategy. In a move designed to focus on a zero-emissions, software-driven future, Daimler's Supervisory board and Board of Management agreed to evaluate plans for a separate listing of Daimler Truck. But why?
"Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans and Daimler Trucks & Buses are different businesses with specific customer groups, technology paths and capital needs," said Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler and Mercedes-Benz. "Both companies operate in industries that are facing major technological and structural changes."
Business semantics aside, the move allows for further development of environmentally friendly tech for trucks and buses – yes, this also includes cars. For the uninitiated, Daimler Truck has already defined its visions for the future with substantial research in battery-electric, fuel-cell trucks, and even autonomous driving. The mention of autonomy will likely trigger purists, but we've already seen that the technology is getting more and more advanced
Regardless, this move makes quite a lot of sense because rather unsurprisingly, each respective company knows best how to serve its customer base. We can already see this with Daimler Truck, as the industry giant already stands as the world's largest truck and bus producer in Europe, North America, Asia, and many other areas of planet earth.
"We are convinced that independent management and governance will allow them to operate even faster, invest more ambitiously, target growth and cooperation, and thus be significantly more agile and competitive," said Källenius.
For everything to materialize, a final decision must be made via a Daimler shareholder meeting planned to take place in Q3 of 2021. Until then, the German auto group will keep doing what it does best.
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