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 integrated technology group poses great challenges

Once again the times held great changes in store for the company. Edzard Reuter, chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler-Benz AG from September 1987, pursued the strategy of turning the died-in-the-wool motor vehicle manufacturer into an integrated technology group, as it was called, with activities also in electronics and aerospace – which, of course, also were to rub off on the engineering of Mercedes-Benz’s vehicles. The Group acquired companies from different branches of industry. These developments had major effects on Research. Until then, it had been part of Mercedes-Benz Development, from which it was now removed and made a Board-level division of Daimler-Benz AG. The new division became available to all the affiliated companies with its wide spectrum of disciplines, ranging from aerospace and road and rail transport through to microelectronics and the associated opportunities for cross-divisional findings. This new approach called for a new structure.

This was introduced by Hartmut Weule, the Board of Management member responsible for Research & Development from the fall of 1990, in the form of “integrated R&D management” – “integrated” because he refused to accept the separation of Research and Development. He, too, came up with a new, more efficient financing model for the division. It took a couple of years before research planning worked smoothly according to this scheme from the mid-1990s. In Weule’s era, research activities were internationalized, with research outposts being established in Palo Alto/USA, Sacramento/USA and Bangalore/India, to name but a few.

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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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