Daimler Sustainability Report 2010 - Daimler Sustainability Report ...

nal systems that help implement appropriate measures
in this area, Daimler conducted an extensive review
(with benchmarks and discussions with experts) in
preparation for the Sustainability Dialogue 2009. This
served as the basis of discussions with stakeholders
concerning the status achieved so far and further
measures to be taken. Reference systems here — with
internal derivations in the Integrity Code, CSR Principles,
company agreements, or the supplier guidelines —
are the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
the ILO’s International Labour Standards, the OECD
Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the human
rights principles of the UN Global Compact. As an
automaker, we are particularly interested in employee
rights, such as freedom of association, the right to
organize labor unions, the right to wage negotiations,
and equal opportunities, as well as the condemnation
of forced labor and the abolition of exploitive child
labor. q F
At Daimler we employ various instruments to ensure
respect for human rights. These include the services of
the Business Practices Offices (including the option of
anonymously filing a report on perceived unethical behavior)
and joint action by the Group and the World Employee
Committee to investigate cases involving possible
improper behavior, for example in the supplier chain.
Nevertheless, dilemmas do sometimes arise when
requirements at the national level are inadequate with
respect to the international reference systems, or conflict
with them. We resolve such matters on a case-bycase
basis — particularly in cooperation with the authorized
institutions — and in keeping with the reference
framework. Daimler has set itself the goal of further
developing activities and instruments that ensure compliance
with human rights standards by the end of 2010.
The underlying idea for the process discussed with the
stakeholders is to integrate human rights as an important
module in Daimler’s current processes for dialogue,
communication, and monitoring. This can result in the
use of a wealth of synergy effects — for example in the
integration of human rights aspects in online training
focusing on the Integrity Code or additional training
modules for managers in high-risk countries where
Daimler has a presence. In addition, Daimler will urge
the stakeholders to address human rights issues in committees
where we play a role, in order to promote joint
initiatives by the industry.
3.0 Product portfolio and production locations
Daimler is active in nearly all the countries in the world,
with strong brands and a comprehensive portfolio of
vehicles ranging from small cars to heavy trucks, complemented
by services along the automotive value
The company
chain. The Group has production facilities in a total of
18 countries and more than 7,000 sales centers worldwide.
q G D H
Mercedes-Benz Cars. The products supplied by the
Mercedes-Benz Cars division range from the high-quality
small cars of the smart brand to the premium automobiles
of the Mercedes-Benz brand and to the Maybach
luxury sedans. Most of these vehicles are produced in
Germany, but the division also has production facilities
in the United States, France, South Africa, Brazil, China,
India, Vietnam and Indonesia. Worldwide, Mercedes-
Benz Cars has 17 production sites at present. In order
to extend our model range in the compact-car segment,
we have started construction of a new plant in Hungary,
which is scheduled to go into operation in 2012. The
most important markets for Mercedes-Benz Cars in
2009 were Germany with 27 percent of unit sales, the
other markets of Western Europe (30 percent), the United
States (19 percent), China (6 percent) and Japan
(2 percent).
Daimler Trucks. As the biggest globally active manufacturer
of trucks above 6 tons gross vehicle weight, Daimler
Trucks develops and produces vehicles in a global
network under the brands Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner,
Western Star and Fuso. The division’s 33 production
facilities are in the NAFTA region (16, thereof 13 in the
United States and 3 in Mexico), Europe (7), South America
(1), Asia (8) and Africa (1). In the context of repositioning
our North American truck business, we ceased
production of the Sterling brand in March 2009 and
closed the plant in St. Thomas, Canada. In February
2009, we opened a new plant in Saltillo, Mexico, where
up to 30,000 heavy-duty trucks will roll off the assembly
lines each year for the markets of the United States,
Canada and Mexico. Daimler Trucks’ product range
includes light, medium and heavy-duty trucks of the
Freightliner brand for local and long-distance deliveries
and construction sites, as well as special vehicles for
municipal applications. Due to close links in terms of
production technology, the division’s product range also
includes the buses of the Thomas Built Buses and Fuso
brands. Its most important sales markets in 2009 were
Asia (with 33 percent of unit sales), the NAFTA region
(24 percent), Western Europe (17 percent) and Latin
America excluding Mexico (14 percent).
Mercedes-Benz Vans. The Mercedes-Benz Vans division
has production facilities at a total of 7 locations
in Germany, Spain, the United States, Argentina
and Vietnam for the Vito/Viano, Sprinter and Vario van
series in weight classes from 1.9 to 7.5 metric tons.
The most important markets for vans are in Europe,
with 84 percent of unit sales. The Sprinter is sold in
the United States and Canada under the Freightliner
brand, and since the beginning of 2010 also under the
Mercedes-Benz brand.
D A
More about our strategy for sustainable
mobility:
p. 26 ff.
D B
More about our safety innovations:
p. 33 ff.
D C
More about customer management:
p. 64 ff.
D D
More about the stakeholder dialogue:
p. 22 ff.
D E
More about donations, sponsoring,
and promoting foundations:
p. 67 ff.
q F
More information:
Online 101
q G
More about our locations worldwide:
Online 102
D H
More about our portfolio changes:
Annual Report 2009, p. 67
q
For further information, please enter
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