What a start of our “Innovation Insights Series 2021”!
Last Wednesday, our “Innovation Insights Series 2021” kicked off with a real highlight. Dr. Benjamin Bhattacharya-Ghosh (Chief of Staff to the President & CEO at Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America and Head of Communication) and Ben Böser (Director of Innovation Management Mercedes-Benz North America) joined us live from Silicon Valley.
Over 500 students followed their fascinating insights about the automotive ecosystem in Silicon Valley and how Mercedes-Benz is “activating” it. One of their key messages was that strategic partnerships are crucial for future success. As the car is transforming more and more into a “smart internet device on wheels”, Mercedes-Benz is especially looking for digital-focused partners like Amazon, Microsoft or Nvidia. Moreover, Benjamin and Ben highlighted the change of automotive OEMs from “supply chain dictators” to co-creation partners, which certainly means a paradigm shift in the automotive industry. After their presentation, our two guest speakers answered the students’ numerous questions. And of course, they also answered the questions about Tesla (“the forbidden T-word”), thereby highlighting the differences in the strategies of Tesla and Mercedes-Benz.
Benjamin and Ben, thank you for getting up very early and for sharing your experiences with us!