Mercedes 2015 Annual Report Download - page 52

Q2
Annual Shareholders’ Meeting approves highest dividend
in the company’s history
The Daimler Annual Shareholders’ Meeting takes place for
the first time in the new CityCube in Berlin, and is also the first
such meeting to be held with the Group’s new Corporate
Design. During the meeting, some 5,000 shareholders approve
a dividend of €2.45 per share – the highest in the history
of the company.
GLA production launch in Beijing
The opening ceremony for the new Mercedes-Benz production
plant for compact cars at Beijing Benz Automotive Corporation
is a major milestone in the Mercedes-Benz strategy for China.
With the launch of GLA production in Beijing, Mercedes-Benz
now builds its successful compact vehicles at four locations.
Mercedes-Benz is the most innovative premium brand
Mercedes-Benz is the most innovative premium automobile
brand (greatest number of world firsts) according to an in-depth
study conducted by the Center of Automotive Management
(CAM) and the Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) corporate
consulting firm. Mercedes-Benz also receives a special award
as the “Most Innovative Brand in the Last Decade.”
Top marks in employer ranking
Daimler receives top marks in the current “trendence Graduate
Barometer.” The company is named as one of the best employers
in Germany and finishes first in the categories “Innovation
of the Year” and “Best Career Website” (among automakers).
Battery technology for stationary applications
Daimler’s wholly owned ACCUMOTIVE subsidiary offers stationary
energy storage devices for private and commercial use.
Daimler plans to expand cooperation in this field with other
sales partners in Germany and around the world.
Truck connectivity in the United States
Daimler Trucks continues to expand its activities in the field
of connected services and to this end acquires an interest
in Zonar Systems Inc. in North America. The company is one
of the leading developers and suppliers of logistics, telematics
and connectivity solutions. The investment is a key milestone
on the path to completely networked vehicles and value-added
services for fleet operators and drivers.
New bus plant in Colombia
Daimler’s wholly owned subsidiary in Colombia, Daimler
Colombia S. A., opens a new bus plant in the city of Funza
(near Bogotá) with a production capacity of 4,000 units per year.
Daimler Buses has built the plant in response to growing
demand for regular-service buses and efficient mobility solutions,
such as Bus Rapid Transit, in various cities in the region.
Daimler progresses as planned
Daimler sets new records for revenue, unit sales and earnings
in the second quarter of 2015. EBIT from ongoing business
operations increases by 54% to €3.8 billion. The Group continues
to expect that it will achieve a significant increase in earnings
for full-year 2015 as well.
A | TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS | HIGHLIGHTS OF 2015 59