Daimler To Reinvest $21 Million In To Research And Development

Daimler AG expects to spend more than $21 billion on research and development of new technology over the next years, the company’s chief executive said during the company’s annual meeting in Berlin. “These efforts are all the more important because there is no single technology that’s clearly superior to all of the others,” Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche told the company’s shareholders. “There are several routes to the mobility of tomorrow,” said Zetsche, who noted number of automobiles in the world is expected to grow five times faster than the population.

In 2007, Daimler invested more than $6 billion in research and development and another $2.7 million for environmental protection. “In the coming years we’ll increase these budgets even more and by 2010 we’ll invest ($21 billion) in research and development,” he said. “To date, Daimler has made more progress with fuel cell technology than any another automaker and we plan to expand our lead in this area,” Zetsche added.

“We’ve also achieved a major breakthrough in battery technology,” said Zetsche, who noted until recently lithium-ion batteries used in laptops , phones and digital cameras couldn’t handle automotive applications. “But Daimler has solved the problem. Thanks to the integration of the vehicle’s cooling system, the batteries can now operate continually at optimal system temperatures. This maximizes their power output; extends their service life, and make it possible to use this high-performance technology in automotive applications.
 

CTS24 - 4/18/2008 1:30:34 PM

+2 Boost

21 Billion(headline needs fixed)

autopro - 4/18/2008 1:59:33 PM

-4 Boost

Toyota spends that in a day,must be more.

ThierryHenry14 - 4/18/2008 4:01:14 PM

+2 Boost

is that why their profits are declining? i would love to see someone with your 12 year old mentality try to run a business...

Willis - 4/18/2008 4:42:22 PM

+4 Boost

Yeah, and what does this bring Toyota? They still end up copying existing technology usually developed by other brands.

Toyota is not known for innovation. Mercedes Benz, with the small R&D budgets they generally had, is very well known for their innovative spirit.

The list of Mercedes inventions and innovations completely outclasses that of Toyota.

ghosthunter - 4/18/2008 3:04:58 PM

-4 Boost

it is about time to dump that century old diesel technology and move to fuel cell/hydrogen (no, i am not talking about that ridiculously stupid BMW hydrogen 7)

ThierryHenry14 - 4/18/2008 4:01:39 PM

+3 Boost

whats wrong with developing both?

autopro - 4/18/2008 5:47:56 PM

-2 Boost

Yea your right they didn't develop hybrid,and nobody's copying it.The figure I quoted was in a toyota press release,so get tight before you deal with the autopro Mr.Henry.

autopro - 4/18/2008 5:51:01 PM

-3 Boost

P.S. I already run a 240 million gross sales business.
What do you do asswipe?

simmonsdp - 4/19/2008 5:16:26 AM

+1 Boost

And your trying to say??

autopro - 4/19/2008 3:21:16 PM

+1 Boost

I was talking to MR. Henry.