Daimler Honors its Suppliers with the 2014 Supplier Award

STUTTGART -- February 27, 2015: Daimler AG has honored ten suppliers for their outstanding performance in the past financial year with the 2014 Daimler Supplier Award. Some 450 guests from the supply industry witnessed the seventh award presentation at the Mercedes-Benz Center in Stuttgart on February 26, 2015. For the first time there were three nominees in each category.

The company honors above-average performance once a year with the Daimler Supplier Award. In working with its direct suppliers, Daimler follows its cooperation model, the Daimler Supplier Network. This model is based on the principles of performance and partnership. Performance is measured in terms of quality, cost, delivery reliability and innovative strength. The partnership between Daimler and its suppliers is based on trust and open communication. That includes the observance of sustainable business practices, which is intended to create incentives for the entire supplier base to steadily improve in existing and new markets. In his opening speech, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, expressed the company's appreciation of its suppliers in light of the above: "2014 was the best year in the history of our company and our suppliers have played a great part in it. With the Daimler Supplier Award we say ‘Thank you’ for excellent quality, excellent performance and excellent innovative strength – in short: for an excellent collaboration!"

The award, a trophy created by the Daimler design unit, was presented by members of the Daimler Board of Management and the heads of Procurement: Dr. Dieter Zetsche; Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Daimler Trucks and Buses; Wilfried Porth, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Human Resources and Director of Labor Relations & Mercedes-Benz Vans; Dr. Klaus Zehender, Divisional Board Member Mercedes-Benz Cars Procurement and Supplier Quality; Dr. Marcus Schoenenberg, Head of Global Procurement Trucks and Buses; and Wendelin Wolbert, Head of International Procurement Services. Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management, Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, presented the “Special Award”.

Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard described the joint progress achieved in 2014, emphasizing the importance of close cooperation between the Daimler Group and its suppliers: "When it comes to new technologies in particular, we at Daimler always take the first step. For this we need partners who likewise see themselves as pioneers and willingly explore new ways to make our trucks and buses even more efficient, even safer and even more connected."

Wilfried Porth emphasized that the good cooperation between Daimler and its suppliers is a major success factor. “We thank our partners for the outstanding cooperation based on trust, mutual respect and appreciation.”

Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber presented the “Special Award“ for the development of an effective and high-quality online navigation and infotainment system for premium automobiles. This system comprises functions such as navigation, radio, telephony, communication and multimedia advices as well as intuitive setting options of different vehicle functions. “The intelligent networking of our vehicles is one of the main future topics of our Research and Development. We therefore need strong partners that are able to develop and produce innovative products in a timely and high-quality manner. Such an international supply partner is Mitsubishi Electric Corporation whose navigation and infotainment system again set standards”, Weber said.

The winners of the 2014 Daimler Supplier Award are as follows: Global Procurement Trucks and Buses

ALCOA Wheel & Transportation Products (category: Quality)
H onored for outstanding quality standards in the production of alloy wheels.

Nominees: Hubei Tri-Ring Auto-Axle Co., Ltd./ Hubei Tri-Ring Forging Co., Ltd.; Voss Automotive GmbH

Robert Bosch Car Multimedia GmbH (category: Innovation)
Honored for cooperative development of the Predictive Powertrain Control System, which makes commercial vehicles even more economical by saving fuel.

Nominees: HITCHINER Manufacturing Co., Inc.; Würth Elektronik ICS GmbH & Co. KG

Gross & Perthun GmbH & Co. KG (category: Partnership)
Honored for outstanding collaboration in the field of underbody protection materials.

Nominees: Yazaki Corporation; Hitachi Automotive Systems Steering, Ltd.

Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars and Supplier Quality

Bocar Group (category: Quality)
Honored for the production of high-quality aluminum components.

Nominees: KIRCHHOFF Automotive GmbH; NGK Spark Plug Europe GmbH

Shin Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. (category: Innovation)
Honored as global technology leader and pioneer in the development of innovative magnet materials.

Nominees: Oberthur Technologies S.A.; Nemak Dillingen GmbH

Samvardhana Motherson Group (category: Partnership)
Honored as a reliable partner who supports Mercedes-Benz's global growth by investment in capacity expansion and new plants.

Nominees: Schmidt Maschinenbau GmbH; Quin GmbH International Procurement Services

Infosys Limited (category: Quality)
Honored for professionalism in the provision of IT Data Center Services.

Nominees: Elanders Germany GmbH; Ed. Züblin AG

Schuler AG (category: Innovation)
Honored for the production of pioneering press lines offering exceptional flexibility and precision.

Nominees: KUKA Systems GmbH; Verizon Telematics Inc.

Royal Dutch Shell plc (category: Partnership)
Honored for outstanding performance in the joint implementation of an after-sales business for lubricants in China.

Nominees: ThyssenKrupp Engineering GmbH; Rhenus SE & Co. KG Special Award

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Honored for the development of an efficient and and high-quality online navigation and infotainment system that injects life into future trends such as Connected Driving.