Daimler Annual Report 2011 - Alle jaarverslagen

Portfolio changes. By means of targeted investment and
future-oriented partnerships, we strengthened our core business,
pushed forward with new technologies and utilized additional
growth potential in 2011. At the same time, we focused on the
continuous further development of our existing business
portfolio.
In January 2011, Daimler and Toray Industries, Inc. concluded
a contract on the establishment of a joint venture for the
production and marketing of vehicle components made of carbon-fiber-reinforced
plastics (CFRP). On the basis of a development
agreement which was already signed in March 2010,
the two companies succeeded in developing a highly efficient
process technology for the series production of CFRP parts with
the advantage of significantly shorter molding cycles. Daimler
and Toray intend to intensify their joint development activities
in order to obtain production tech nology for series manufacturing
that is also extremely attractive on the cost side. The
joint venture will produce and market the CFRP components,
thus making significant progress with the application of carbonfiber-reinforced
plastics in the automotive industry, especially
for series-produced vehicles.
In July, Daimler and Robert Bosch GmbH signed contracts
regulating the establishment of a 50:50 joint venture for electric
motors. The new company has been named EM-motive GmbH
and will develop and produce innovative electric motors for
electric vehicles.
We intensified our cooperation with Russian truck manufacturer
Kamaz in September. In addition to the joint venture
for the production of axles that was agreed upon at the
end of 2010, Daimler and Kamaz also signed a memorandum
of understanding on the supply and licensing of the Axor
cab, which is to be used in a new Kamaz truck model series.
Daimler AG and the German government agreed in principle in
November 2011 that the KfW Bank Group will purchase from
Daimler 7.5% of the shares of European Aeronautic Defence
and Space Company N.V. (EADS). The sale of the shares is
planned for the year 2012. Daimler is to continue to hold 7.5%
of the shares, 15% of the voting rights and the industrial
leadership on the German side.
Daimler and Akka Technologies SA signed a contract on
December 7, 2011 on the sale to Akka of a majority interest
in the Daimler subsidiary MBtech Group. Subject to the
approval of the antitrust authorities, engineering consultancy
Akka will buy a 65% interest in MBtech Group, which is based
in Sindelfingen. Daimler will remain a long-term and strategic
shareholder as well as an important client of MBtech. Akka’s
entry will create one of the biggest European engineering consultancies.
Akka serves customers in the automotive, aeronautics,
space, transport and energy sectors. MBtech has the
focus of its activities in the automotive sector. The two companies
complement each other ideally in their regional positioning
and client portfolio.
With the consent of all the relevant authorities, Daimler and
Rolls-Royce received official approval for the acquisition
by Engine Holding GmbH of Tognum in August 2011. Engine
Holding, in which Daimler and Rolls-Royce each holds a
50% interest, has meanwhile secured approximately 99% of
Tognum’s shares. With this acquisition, Daimler and Rolls-
Royce will create a leading supplier of complete systems in
the field of industrial engines. The company has a broad,
global reach in terms of products, services and system solutions.
In September 2011, Daimler and Foton received the final
approval from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce for their
joint venture Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co., Ltd.,
which will produce and distribute medium- and heavy-duty
trucks. Daimler has 50% interest in this joint venture and
will thus further extend its position in the Chinese market. The
trucks will be marketed under Foton’s truck brand name,
“Auman.” Daimler will contribute its technological expertise, in
particular in the areas of diesel engines and exhaust systems.
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