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April 9, 2008
Daimler is well prepared for the current economic challenges, says Daimler CEO
Photo: The new generation A-Class: Mercedes-Benz A 170 Coupé
BERLIN, April 9, 2008 -- Daimler AG is expecting approximately 6,600 shareholders to attend today's first Annual Meeting under the new name of Daimler in Berlin.
Six months after the start of Daimler, Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO) and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Dr. Dieter Zetsche sums up: "All of our business operations are developing well -- our key figures are significantly better than they have been in recent years." Addressing the shareholders, Zetsche says, "Your Company has made substantial progress over the past two years. Old virtues have given us new strength." Looking into the future, the Chairman of the Board of Management says, "We have a clear strategy for sustainable profitable growth."
Sustainable mobility and accident-free driving are the most important focuses of Daimler's research and development work. "We invented the automobile -- and we are passionately shaping its future," Zetsche says. The world is embarking on a second "automotive century," in which the number of automobiles in the world is growing five times as fast as its population. In the long term, this increase will only be ecologically acceptable if passenger cars and commercial vehicles become cleaner. Zetsche: "Customers expect us to provide solutions -- and we are willing to accept a pioneering role when it comes to clean and safe automobiles." Daimler has the required innovative power and the financial means to meet this challenge.
Daimler's "road map for sustainable mobility" consists of three pillars: the ongoing optimization of vehicles with innovative combustion engines; the additional improvement of efficiency through hybridization -- i.e. the combination of a combustion engine with an electric motor; and zero-emission driving with fuel cells and battery-driven systems.
Photo: Susanne Baldszun with her new smart fortwo cabrio (pulse 62 kW) and Ulrich Kowalewski, Director of the Mercedes-Benz Center Munich. Yesterday afternoon, Kowalewski handed over the 100,000th second-generation smart fortwo to this 36-year-old customer in the recently re-opened smart Center Munich. "The new fortwo is even more comfortable, more agile, safer, and more environmentally friendly than its successful predecessor," says Anders Sundt Jensen, who is responsible for brand management at smart. "The new fortwo is now offered in 37 countries, where enthusiastic customers are won over by the vehicle's lifestyle-oriented design, as well as its exceptional fuel economy and environmental compatibility." The unique two-seater is most popular with customers in Italy and Germany, who account for two-thirds of all drivers of the new fortwo. Demand is particularly high for the premium equipment line "passion", which is chosen by two out of three buyers worldwide.
Zetsche emphasizes that Daimler will not start building only small cars: "Our route to sustainable mobility is based on technological innovations, not renunciation." The company has the concrete goal of offering at least one model in each of the Mercedes-Benz core model series that is a leader in terms of consumption and emissions. In addition zero-emission driving, Daimler is also pursuing the goal of accident-free driving.
According to the text of his speech, Zetsche essentially confirms the outlook for 2008 and the coming years that was presented at the Annual Press Conference: "Currently, the economic climate suggests that things will get tougher rather than easier." Key factors are the credit crisis in the United States, the ongoing weakening of the Dollar against the Euro, the development of the raw material markets, and the low level of confidence in the U.S. economy with possible effects around the world.
In Daimler's view, the automotive markets will not remain unaffected by these developments. For example, the demand for passenger vehicles in the United States is likely to be much lower this year than in 2007; in Western Europe, it is expected to remain flat. Growth in the industry will therefore continue to be driven by the emerging markets, whose growth is so dynamic that it will more than offset the triad's weakness. Overall, Daimler assumes that the global market for passenger cars will grow by approximately 2% in 2008.
With regard to commercial vehicle markets, Europe is expected to maintain last year's high sales level. In North America, Daimler does not anticipate a recovery before the second half of the year.
Source: Daimler AG
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:05 AM | View the original post
Gerald Genta Creates a One-of-a-Kind Model in Support of the Theodora Foundation
As a partner of the Theodora Foundation for the past two years, Gerald Genta will be contributing to the charity auction organised by Christie's on April the 16th by donating a one-of-a-kind watch. The unique model is a sophisticated and amusing timepiece that plays on the colors of the foundation.
The Theodora Foundation was born in Switzerland, in 1993, at the initiative of Andre and Jan Poulie. It is named in tribute to their mother, Theodora, who brightened Andre's childhood days during an extended hospital stay. The mission of its Dream doctors is to care for sick children through laughter. They currently operate in over 40 institutions around Switzerland and the concept has been taken up in eight other countries. In all, around 30 specifically trained professional artists pay regular visits to 95 hospitals or specialised institutions some 220,000 times a year and adapt their clown shows to the situation of each child they meet..
Gerald Genta, an Haute Horlogerie brand with a fine appreciation for the humourous, supports the Theodora Foundation. For the second year running, it is donating a one-of-a-kind watch to the auction. This self-winding ladies' watch displays the hours and the minutes by central hands, and the seconds on one of the brand's typical retrograde counters, appearing at 6 o'clock. The particularly entertaining dial features a richly colourful and complex composition set against a white-lacquered background. The thirteen individual rings appear on various levels and are individually coloured using a sophisticated technique. This enchanting decorative effect is further magnified by a circle of diamonds set on the bezel of the white gold case.
The "Magnificent Jewels Auction" to be organised by Christie's, will take place in New York in April the 16th and will be preceded by several exhibitions around the world.
Source: Gerald Genta
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:45 AM | View the original post
Sony BMG: Donna Summer's "I'm A Fire" rises to #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Charts
Celebrating four decades of milestones, DONNA SUMMER adds another accomplishment to her list with the recent success of "I'm A Fire." "I'm A Fire" has risen to #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Charts making it her 13th #1 single to top the club charts and her 19th #1 charting single across all charts. This is Donna's first #1 hit in almost 10 years. Donna Summer is the only artist to have had a #1 charting dance hit in every decade since the 1970's.
"I'm A Fire" was remixed by several remixers including Solitaire, Craig C, Rod Carrillo, Redtop, Matty Soulflower and Baggi Begovic & Soul Conspiracy. The Rocasound original version is a track from Donna's upcoming CD Crayons which will be released on May 20 2008 on Sony BMG Music Entertainment's Burgundy Records. Crayons will be Donna's first album of all new material to be released in 17 years.
Containing a mix of the up-tempo tunes and ballads, the new album showcases new material that is written by Donna working with several renowned writers and producers.
TRACK LIST
STAMP YOUR FEET
MR. MUSIC
CRAYONS featuring Ziggy Marley
THE QUEEN IS BACK
FAME (THE GAME)
SAND ON MY FEET
DRIVIN' DOWN BRAZIL
I'M A FIRE
SLIDE OVER BACKWARDS
SCIENCE OF LOVE
BE MYSELF AGAIN
BRING DOWN THE REIGN
Source: Sony BMG
|GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:36 AM | View the original post
