Mercedes 2010 Annual Report Download - page 71

Management Report | Business and General Conditions | 67
We have a clear claim to leadership also in the field of sustain-
ability. We place a particular focus on environmental protection
with production and products, long-term job protection, respon-
sible suppliers, intact relations with society, and transparent com-
munication. One of the key goals in this context is the ongoing
reduction of the CO2 emissions of our cars and commercial vehicles.
We intend to reduce the average CO2 emissions of our fleet of
new cars in the European Union from 158 g/km in 2010 to less
than 140 g/km in 2012. A key contribution will be made by
our BlueDirect V6 and V8 gasoline engines with third-generation
direct fuel injection, which we launched in late 2010. And within
the framework of a voluntary commitment signed by various truck
manufacturers, we are pursuing the goal of reducing the CO2
emissions of the heavy trucks (above 12 tons) we sell in Europe
compared with base year 2005 by an average of 20% per ton-
kilometer by 2020 (see pages 140 ff).
We aim to have high-performing, inspired employees who
direct their actions towards our corporate values and maintain
the highest ethical standards. The new Board of Management
position for Integrity and Legal Affairs has the task of ensuring
that rules and regulations are observed and that the highest
ethical standards are met. As we regard diversity within our work-
force as an advantage, we are making efforts to achieve for
example 20% of executive positions occupied by women by the
year 2020 and to increase our internationality.
Operational Excellence and Sustainability
Superior
Products
and
Experience
Customer
Innovation
and
Technology
Leadership
and
Ultimately, we will grow profitably by consistently implementing
the strategies derived from our target system. For all our activities,
the focus is on
– strengthening the core business,
– growing further in new markets,
– maintaining a leading position with “green” technologies, and
– playing a leading part in the development of new mobility
concepts and services.
Ambitious return targets. We have set ourselves clear return
targets. As of 2013, we aim to earn an average return on sales
of 9% in our automotive business across all market and product
cycles. This is based on return targets for the individual divisions
of 10% for Mercedes-Benz Cars, 8% for Daimler Trucks, 9% for
Mercedes-Benz Vans and 6% for Daimler Buses. Our target for
the Daimler Financial Services division is a return on equity of 17%.
Portfolio changes. With the goal of strengthening our core busi-
ness and utilizing new growth potential, we further developed
the Daimler Group’s business portfolio in 2010:
In March 2010, Daimler AG sold its entire 5.34% shareholding
in Tata Motors, an Indian automotive group, to various groups of
investors. We achieved a cash inflow of €303 million from the sale.
Daimler has an excellent starting position to utilize the growth
potential for cars and commercial vehicles in India and is strength-
ening its own activities in that market. It was therefore no longer
necessary for Daimler to continue holding an equity interest in Tata.