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Daimler 360 GRAD - FAKTEN zur Nachhaltigkeit 2008
Daimler Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2008 / Customers and society / Social commitment
Social commitment
Daimler is a globally operating company, and we view this status as both an opportunity and an obligation to
assume broad responsibility for society. Our objective here is to preserve an environment that helps foster
dialogue and understanding in today’s globalized world in an atmosphere that allows us to create value for all of
our stakeholders. To achieve this goal, we must, on the one hand, set clear Group-wide priorities, while at the
same time responding in a flexible and sensitive way to special local and regional conditions. Because of the
complex nature of this challenge, we focus on those activities where we can best put our knowledge and
experience as a global automaker to work in a manner that will benefit society to the greatest extent possible.
We work hard:
� To support the locations where we are active. We seek to promote a greater sense of community, which is
why we cooperate closely with local authorities and nonprofit organizations. We also get involved in different
kinds of projects, such as those for expanding childcare centers located near our plants. Daimler will
therefore provide around 350 additional daycare slots in Germany for children under three by 2009.
� Together with our employees. Daimler knows it can count on the voluntary help of its employees in projects
and programs like the “Day of Caring,” during which employees and managers helped renovate a youth
center in Berlin, whereby Daimler Financial Services paid for all materials. The “Moved by Ideas” program,
with which the Mercedes-Benz Bank supports and promotes voluntary social activities by its employees in
Germany, carried out 16 charitable projects at various locations.
� In a social and humanitarian manner all over the world. Around the world – and even at home – there are
people who suffer from poverty and illness, and who also often lack even the basic necessities of life. We try
to help out where we can, and we’ve found we can be most effective in those communities where our
production and service locations are situated and we are therefore familiar with the local situation. Our
assistance takes the form of donations of both money and vehicles, and we also frequently participate in
joint initiatives with partners from government, industry, and various associations.
One of our main areas of activity involves the provision of immediate assistance in the event of natural or
man-made disasters. Examples in 2007 included financial donations and the provision of vehicles following
extensive flooding in Indonesia and Tabasco, Mexico, and a cyclone in Bangladesh. The sum of €130,000 –
made up of € 80,000 from Daimler employees and a further € 50,000 from the company – was donated
through the reconstruction foundation “Daimler hilft e.V.” to rebuild the School of Hope in Sri Lanka, which
had been destroyed in the 2004 tsunami and was officially reopened in January 2007.
� To promote education and training beyond the confines of our plants. Our support for education and training
primarily takes the form of public-private partnerships. In 2007, we further expanded our training network in
selected regions and staged, among other things, Girls’ Days and special “Children’s University” events.
� To educate children about the dangers of road traffic. The MobileKids road safety initiative for children is
based on the principle of learning through play. We established MobileKids in 2001 in cooperation with
international road safety experts. The MobileKids program includes the 3D animated TV series “The
Nimbols,” the online city “Mokitown,” and the MobileKids Tour. The latter is an entertaining roadshow whose
patron is Helmut Rau, Minister of Education in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. During the 2007/08
school year, the Mobile- Kids Tour stopped at 50 schools in Baden-Württemberg to visit third- and fourthgrade
students.
� For intercultural dialogue. As an internationally operating company, Daimler appreciates the importance of
open relationships free of prejudices across all language and cultural barriers. It’s also true that such
relationships are crucial to our business success. We therefore support projects that stimulate interest for
other countries and establish a sense of cultural understanding, especially among young people. One of
these is the Mondialogo initiative, which runs an international competition for school and university students.
Daimler is also active in programs that provide stipends and exchange programs for gifted students.