Hubertus Troska, a member of the board of directors of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG and in charge of the Greater China business, said, "In the past 20 years, China's automobile market has made amazing achievements. Adhering to the initial intention of "developing in China and advancing together with China", we are honored to participate in this vigorous development process and do our bit for social development. All this is inseparable from the efforts of our local team and the support of our China partners. I have lived and worked in China for nearly ten years, during which I personally experienced the vitality of China society and automobile market. If there is anything more fascinating than the growth rate of China market, it is undoubtedly the great innovation potential and ambitious people here. I firmly believe that China will play a vital role in shaping the future of the automobile industry. "
By putting customers first and expanding local investment, Daimler has won the trust of nearly 5 million customers in China, the world's largest automobile market, thanks to the support of more than 600 dealers nationwide and the efforts of about 5,500 Chinese and foreign employees. In the past five years alone, Daimler and its partners have invested more than 30 billion yuan in China.
At the same time, combining business responsibility has become an important development concept of the company: Today, Daimler's Mercedes-Benz corporate social responsibility project has invested a total of 280 million yuan, benefiting more than 6,543,800 people in China. Looking into the future, China will remain the most critical growth driver of Mercedes-Benz and an important innovation base for the company's future-oriented "all-electric" transformation.
The deep relationship between Mercedes-Benz and China can be traced back to 19 13, which can be described as a "hundred-year love affair" with China. Since the establishment of 200 1 Daimler Greater China, Daimler has accelerated its development in China and kept pace with the automobile market in China. Over the years, through cooperation with industry leaders, technology companies, start-ups and well-known universities in China, Daimler has continuously deepened its understanding of the China market and customers, laying the foundation for future success. Today, Daimler's business in China has covered the whole automobile industry chain, including research and development, procurement, production, sales and financial services.
In 2005, with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan put into production as the first domestic model, Daimler started the R&D and production process in China. Today, Beijing factory is the largest production base in the global production network of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, which witnessed the off-line of more than 3 million Mercedes-Benz cars and became a model of sincere cooperation between China and Germany. In 20 10, Daimler began to produce Mercedes-Benz light commercial vehicles in Fuzhou to further meet the growing demand of luxury commercial vehicles from China customers.
In addition to high-end manufacturing, Daimler also attaches great importance to the local research and development of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Daimler's R&D center in China plays a key role in the global R&D network, covering many fields such as electric travel, intelligent interconnection, autonomous driving, vehicle localization, vehicle testing and design. With the new Daimler China R&D Technology Center officially put into operation this autumn, Daimler has further strengthened its local innovation and technological R&D strength, and accelerated the localization process of Mercedes-Benz products including pure electric vehicles.
For Daimler, China is more than just a commercial market. As a socially responsible enterprise, Daimler has been committed to giving back to China society. This year, Daimler's vocational education and training program celebrated the15th anniversary in China, which is the latest example of the company's practice of corporate social responsibility. Since its launch in China in 2006, Daimler's vocational education and training program has been cooperating with universities in China to reserve high-quality compound talents for the sustainable development of China's automobile industry, covering key industries such as production and after-sales. Up to now, it has benefited more than 9,000 students.
Since 20 10, Mercedes-Benz has continued to carry out corporate social responsibility practice through "Mercedes-Benz Star Wish Fund". By the end of 20021,Xingyuan Fund had invested a total of 280 million yuan, benefiting more than10.5 million people, and continuously contributed to the sustainable development and social prosperity of China in the fields of education support, culture and art, environmental protection and rural revitalization.
202 1 12 1, Daimler Group was formally divided into two independent entities, which were responsible for the operation of Daimler truck passenger cars, Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and light commercial vehicles respectively. Daimler AG will also be renamed Mercedes-Benz Group AG to further focus on the luxury passenger car and light commercial vehicle market, constantly seize business development and profit opportunities, and accelerate to a zero-emission and software-driven future. With this historic reorganization, Daimler's next successful chapter in China has also begun a wonderful prelude.
With its great potential in technological innovation and sustainable development, China will play a key role in the global strategy of Mercedes-Benz. Under the background of "electric first" to "all-electric", Mercedes-Benz will accelerate its efforts in the luxury electric vehicle market in China. By 2022, the pure electric vehicles of Mercedes-Benz in China will be expanded from 20 19 1 to 5 models, covering multiple sub-sectors. This year, following the domestic EQA pure electric SUV and EQB pure electric SUV, the flagship luxury pure electric vehicle EQS will be listed in China soon. Next year, the brand-new EQE will also be produced and marketed in China.