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Frank Deiss, who became president and CEO of Beijing Benz Automotive, a joint venture of Daimler AG and Beijing Automotive Industrial Holding, on March 1, 2011, spoke with the Beijing Economic Technological Development Area's E-Times weekly, on Sept 30, after receiving a 2014 Friendship Award, where he expressed his excitement over getting the award.
Deiss is one of only two people in Beijing to win it this year. He said it's an honor he must share with his grandchildren and an honor for Beijing Benz, and Beijing Automotive Industrial Holding, as well as Daimler AG.
It is the highest award from the Chinese government for foreign experts who make an outstanding contribution to China's economic and social progress. A hundred foreigners, from 25 countries, received the award this time.
"Training is better than imports"
Deiss also shared his experience of managing Beijing Benz, a major enterprise in the Economic Technological Development Area, also known as E-town, saying that a competitive team was what made Beijing Benz rocket over the last two years, adding, "Technology imports are just the beginning, while employees are the key to success,".
More than 1,000 of the company's junior employees have been sent to the HQ in Germany training for anywhere from six weeks to six months, who then come back to share the information with their colleagues. Deiss said the training was effective in improving work quality and the company was working on improving the learning process by setting up a training center here in China.
Thanks to the advanced business concepts Benz brought, according to the Beijing company's employees, an excellent Chinese automotive team was created increasing competitiveness.
"Cultural integration makes cooperation easy"
German and Chinese cultural exchanges are another reason for Beijing Benz's success and Deiss considers himself as something like a bridge between the two countries, noting, "What I'm trying to do is to bring the two cultures closer, and the two corporations, Daimler and Beijing Automotive, trust each other for mutual benefit."
Some leading German engineers brought the essence of Mercedes-Benz and a rigorous work ethic to China, improving both professional skills and the work of employees in China. Nonetheless, it would be a waste of time if German experts came to China but couldn't blend in with the Chinese and develop effective communications with Chinese co-workers, so, Deiss says he puts great emphasis on picking just the right people to work with the Chinese.
"Having family get-togethers with senior Chinese managers is one of my favorite leisure activities", he said, adding that his Chinese employees can interact with him at all kinds of company events.
E-town improvements help Beijing Benz development
Deiss says he's quite content with his life and work here in E-town and his company seen some miracles in recent years, which might not have come without the area's support, which Deiss considers his best partner and says that cooperation with E-town makes construction work, new equipment tests, facilities, and contact with suppliers a lot easier.
He says that he thinks E-town has a more effective licensing and registration system, than he experienced previously in Germany and other European countries, at that his company benefits a great deal.
Hybrid power with a plug-in, the next generation
The two German and Chinese parent companies plan to put 4 billion euro ($5 billion) into Beijing Benz, by 2015, according to the contract and the combined capital is expected to help Mercedes Benz solidify its overseas market and sustainable development, and build confidence in made-in-China automobiles.
As for the company's future, Deiss points to a new energy vehicle and a hybrid power automobile that uses electricity. In addition, the company will introduce the GLA SUV from HQ to break into the Chinese deluxe compact SUV market. And, next year the market will see the vehicle type produced totally in China. Deiss says the two countries are working closely to produce more new energy vehicles.
