Mercedes 2006 Annual Report Download - page 71

Research and development
Continued high level of research and development
expenditure. In the year under review, we once again enhanced
the efficiency of our research and development activities.
Expenditure for research and development totaled €5.3 billion in
2006 (2005: €5.6 billion). The most important projects at the
Mercedes Car Group were the new generation of the E-Class, the
new version of the CL-Class, and preparations for the model
change for the C-Class in 2007. The successful conclusion of these
projects and the more efficient application of the expertise
available within the DaimlerChrysler Group led to slightly lower
research and development expenditure of €2.2 billion at the
Mercedes Car Group. Nonetheless, due to the implementation of
the module strategy and commonalization concepts, we suc-
ceeded in accelerating the ongoing development of drive-system
technologies and emission reductions. The Chrysler Group’s
total research and development expenditure of €1.6 billion was
lower than in the prior year. The focus was on the development
of the new minivan generation, which is to be launched in North
America in 2007, as well as on hybrid vehicles: the Chrysler
Group will launch a hybrid version of the Dodge Durango – its first
hybrid model – in 2008. The Truck Group spent €1.0 billion on
research and development. Its major projects included the suc-
cessor models for the Mercedes-Benz Actros and Axor, for the
Freightliner Premium Class and for the Mitsubishi Fuso Super Great.
There was also expenditure for three new engine families for
heavy, medium and light truck series. As of the year 2008, the
new heavy-duty engines will gradually become available in trucks
of the Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star, Mitsubishi Fuso and
Mercedes-Benz brands. Additional key areas of R&D activities at
DaimlerChrysler were the further development of conventional
drive-system technologies to make engines even cleaner and
more fuel efficient. In order to reduce CO2emissions even further
and to enable us to supply vehicles offering long-term sustaina-
bility, we are also working on lightweight components, alternative
propulsion systems such as hybrid drive and fuel cells, and elect-
ronic systems for the improvement of vehicle safety. Worldwide,
25,200 people worked in DaimlerChrysler’s research facilities
and the divisions’ product-development departments at the end
of 2006.
DaimlerChrysler spent a total of €1.7 billion on environmental
protection in 2006 (2005: €1.5 billion). Our prime goal in this
area is to make mobility sustainable for the future. We therefore
permanently work on improving our products’ environmental
compatibility, further reducing the fuel consumption and emissions
of our gasoline and diesel engines, and developing alternative
propulsion systems. We use environmentally friendly production
methods and promote the improvement of fossil fuels and the
development and application of regenerative fuels. In recent
years, we have made further progress regarding our manufactur-
ing processes and the emissions of our vehicles. Since 1990,
we have reduced the fleet consumption of our passenger cars in
Germany by 30%. In the past 15 years, we have reduced the
exhaust emissions of our passenger cars by more than 70%, and
have reduced emissions of particulate matter by more than
95%. We have passed an important milestone with our BLUETEC
technology: our BLUETEC trucks are already able to fulfill the
strict Euro-5 emission limits that will come into force in October
2009. Mercedes-Benz sold 24,900 BLUETEC trucks in the year
2006. And all of our buses have been equipped with BLUETEC as
standard equipment since the fall of 2006. In summer 2006,
Mitsubishi Fuso started series production of the Canter Eco Hybrid,
the world’s most environmentally friendly light-duty truck.
Cars with BLUETEC will fulfill the strictest exhaust-emission limits
worldwide. This new technology was launched in the United
States and Canada in October 2006 in the Mercedes-Benz E320
BLUETEC. This is the cleanest diesel car in the world, due to
its combination of optimized engine management and the new
technology for exhaust-gas aftertreatment. As of the year 2008,
it is planned to gradually launch passenger cars on the European
market with BLUETEC technology. A precondition for this is the
availability of low-sulfur diesel fuel all over Europe.
Management Report | Profitability | 55
Amounts in millions of € % change
Research and development expenditure
-6
-10
-4
+8
-14
5,649
2,418
1,710
944
577
5,331
2,176
1,638
1,023
494
20052006 06/05
DaimlerChrysler Group
Mercedes Car Group
Chrysler Group
Truck Group
Van, Bus, Other