1. In-house research for the benefit of the customer
2. The 1973 oil crisis
3. The integrated technology group
4. Back to the core business

The 1973 oil crisis and its consequences

The first major oil crisis in 1973 put a stop to the efforts of expanding the Research department for the time being. The immediate effects were a hiring stop and manpower reduction. At the same time, the oil crisis held out great opportunities to Research, because all of a sudden economical vehicles were in demand. Research quickly found answers to fundamental questions - answers which gave the company orientation in this troubled period.

Expansion of the Research unit was not resumed before 1977. The 75th anniversary of the Berlin-Marienfelde plant blessed Research with the opportunity to locate a research group there – and the topic selected was “Future, Transportation and the Environment”, a field to be investigated by an interdisciplinary team. For instance, the NAFA (Nahverkehrsfahrzeug), a compact local transit vehicle, originated in close collaboration with the Berlin research group. The driving simulator was built in Berlin and developed into one of the most important research and development tools for the car of the future.

Förster time and again presented new fields of work, and in each case his ideas testified to his farsightedness – he was easily able to define topics 20 years in advance. Many of them – though not all of them – were actually translated into products. In-house research contributed valuable findings among other things to the following issues: engine optimization, exhaust gas aftertreatment, high-temperature ceramics, energy storage, fuel-cell and hydrogen propulsion, display and navigation systems, anti-lock brake system and autonomous intelligent cruise control.

Förster retired at the end of 1982. His successor was Hubertus Christ from within the ranks of the company. The latter pursued the original approach, namely to consider the automobile not just as a technical object, but to take into account the totality of transportation and traffic and the surrounding environment of economic, social and political influences. Christ was no friend of rigid hierarchies; he put together working teams for specific projects and kept hierarchies as flat as possible. Several new disciplines were introduced during his era.

At that point in time, the Board of Management member responsible was Werner Breitschwerdt who considered in-house research as essential for Daimler-Benz in defending the company’s technological leadership. Under the management of Breitschwerdt, electronics arrived on the automotive scene to stay – not least due to the major contributions by the Research unit. At the same time, the latter also had to concern itself with the demand for greater fuel economy and reduced pollutant emissions – a burning issue of automobiles with internal combustion engines. Breitschwerdt himself engaged in research management. He adopted a structured approach to transferring research findings to large-scale production, as well as to mastering the competition between these units. At the same time, he secured the financing of Research within the company.

From early 1987, Christ’s successor as head of Research was Ferdinand Panik. He introduced even more effective planning to Research. One of his major activities was the joint European project named Prometheus (Programme for European Traffic with Highest Efficiency and Unprecedented Safety) whose effects can still be seen today in the improvement of road safety with the aid of advanced technology. It lives on in the DaimlerChrysler Vision of Accident-free Driving.

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Powerful thrust: A hot-water rocket was used to accelerate the cars in crash tests through to the 1960s. The rocket was detached from the rear of the car before the latter hit an obstacle.


Evasive action: The anti-lock braking system retains the vehicle’s full steerability even during an emergency braking maneuver. Mercedes-Benz presented the system for passenger cars in 1978.


Accident testing for the sake of safety: Daimler-Benz started regular crash testing in the 1950s.


Trendsetter: Daimler-Benz Research looked into hydrogen propulsion at an early stage. The photo shows an L 307 van from 1975.


Perfect world: In the driving simulator of DaimlerChrysler, the driver is shown an artificial but highly detailed picture of the world through which he or she moves on a virtual trip.


Reality incorporated: The driving simulator of DaimlerChrysler accommodates a complete vehicle, while the simulator housing itself moves in three-dimensional space, controlled by a computer.


The power of electricity: In 1995, Daimler-Benz researchers once again tested electric propulsion, for instance in a Mercedes-Benz C-Class and in a Sprinter.


The power of electricity: In 1995, Daimler-Benz researchers once again tested electric propulsion, for instance in a Mercedes-Benz C-Class and in a Sprinter.


Finding one’s destination with the help of a computer: Among other things, the Prometheus project team developed an electronic road map.


The power of electricity: In 1995, Daimler-Benz researchers once again tested electric propulsion, for instance in a Mercedes-Benz C-Class and in a Sprinter.


Alternative propulsion systems: In 1994, a bus powered by natural gas started trial operation in everyday service. The photo shows the gas tanks on the roof, with the cladding removed.


Alternative propulsion systems: In 1994, a bus powered by natural gas started trial operation in everyday service.


Promising technology: A Mercedes-Benz van with fuel cell propulsion from the year 1994.


Perfectly guided: The destination-finding computer developed within the framework of the Prometheus research project was a precursor of modern navigation systems.


Airbag testing in 2004: A Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W 220 series) hitting an A-Class (W 169 series).


Sensitive instruments: The Vision A research car, a precursor of the A-Class, in the hall where the electromagnetic compatibility of all components is tested.


Environmental compatibility to the fore: Hydrogen-powered Mercedes-Benz vehicles from the year 1991.


Environmental compatibility to the fore: Hydrogen-powered Mercedes-Benz vehicles from the year 1991.


Low wind resistance: All vehicles are tested in the wind tunnel.


New technologies: In the Prometheus research project, electronic systems were integrated in the car to support the driver.


Approaching the Vision of Accident-free Driving: An autonomous intelligent cruise control system was tested within the framework of the Prometheus research project.


The world’s first navigation system: The destination-finding system of Daimler-Benz from the year 1987. In terms of precision, it was eventually surpassed by satellite-based systems introduced at a later stage.


The world’s first navigation system: The destination-finding system of Daimler-Benz from the year 1987. In terms of precision, it was eventually surpassed by satellite-based systems introduced at a later stage.


Realistic surroundings: The driving simulator of Daimler-Benz AG excellently simulates real-world traffic conditions.


Intelligence for long journeys: The trip computer from the research laboratories of Daimler-Benz from the year 1984.


Intelligence for long journeys: The trip computer from the research laboratories of Daimler-Benz from the year 1984.


Tomorrow’s car on the move: The Auto 2000 research car, shown here in operation in 1982. Among other things, it served the purpose of testing different propulsion technologies.


Research for local public transport: In 1981, Mercedes-Benz provided several buses for trial operation, i.e. buses which either derived electricity from overhead cables or were capable of operating autonomously with a diesel engine – depending on the conditions of the town concerned.


Well-founded research: The Mercedes-Benz fleet of vehicles with alternative propulsion systems, based for instance in liquefied gas, methanol and hydrogen.


Flexible rail transport: The track-guided bus project combined the advantages of rail-bound means of transport with the freedom of the road – to which the track-guided bus can change where and when required. This technology was tested in Essen, Germany, and other cities around the world.


Anticipatory research: Daimler-Benz AG engaged in research on hydrogen propulsion at an early stage – the photo shows test vehicles from the year 1979.


Commercial vehicles included: After the world premiere in passenger cars in 1978, Mercedes-Benz presented the anti-lock braking system in a touring coach in 1979.


Controlled explosion: The airbag unfolds and reaches its full size and protective effect within milliseconds.


Flexible rail transport: The track-guided bus project combined the advantages of rail-bound means of transport with the freedom of the road – to which the track-guided bus can change where and when required. This technology was tested in Essen, Germany, and other cities around the world.


Protective air cushion: The airbag, developed by Daimler-Benz, shown here in an S-Class car from the W 221 series from 2005.

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