MBRDI has announced the expansion of its pioneering initiative, the Sustainability Garage, with two new Centres of Excellence on sustainable mobility and environmental innovation. It is a reinforcement of Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to fostering an ecosystem of sustainability and driving transformative change within one of the most-emitting industries on a global scale: the automotive.
The announcement to expand the Sustainability Garage was made during the Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Dialogue India 2024 in New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam. It brings key stakeholders-government representatives, industry leaders, academics, policymakers, and think tanks-on board to deliberate upon various aspects of sustainability challenges and their solutions. Keynote speaker and panellists included renowned thought leaders: Renata Jungo Brüngger, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG for Integrity, Governance & Sustainability; and Manu Saale, Managing Director and CEO, MBRDI.
A Pledge for Sustainable Innovation
The newly announced Centres of Excellence would be located in Hyderabad and New Delhi, extending the reach and impact of the Sustainability Garage. Of these, the first one is the Climate Tech Incubator that would support 25 social enterprises that are into sustainable mobility and environmental innovation. These would be provided by MBRDI with much-needed resources: seed funding, customized support, and deep tech mentorship to scale their solutions in order to help build a more sustainable future.
Renata Jungo Brüngger explained the higher vision on sustainability as Mercedes-Benz understands it: “Sustainability means creating permanent value for all stakeholder groups. We are a global company, but also a corporate citizen, and we want to contribute positively to society beyond the core business operations.” Sustainability at Mercedes-Benz does not mean it just has carbon emission reduction but also involves responsible sourcing of its supplies to ensure that all of its supply chain has fulfilled the tough standards of sustainability being set.
The Sustainability Garage was born of many years of commitment to decarbonization and environmental stewardship at Mercedes-Benz. MBRDI intends to expand this initiative into a platform where a wide array of stakeholder groups can come together to research, create immersive experiences, and foster social innovation projects related to some of the most burning climate and environmental issues.
Driving Innovation from India
MBRDI chief Manu Saale said India continues to play an imperative role in Mercedes-Benz’s global sustainability strategy. “Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India is committed to leading this charge in the field of sustainable mobility. The new projects at the Sustainability Garage will play a vital role in furthering innovation from India aimed at solving some of the most pressing global challenges,” he added.
Saale also made sure to mention that there was not only a moral but also a financial compulsion towards sustainability. He said, “At Mercedes-Benz, there are two key pillars in our approach: first, environmental sustainability, and second, mobility sustainability. Focusing on these two areas should provide a sustainable future for the automotive industry while driving economic value.
The expansion at the Sustainability Garage signals a clear strategic intent to harness the budding potential that India promises in sustainable technology and innovation. More precisely, the incubator of Climate Tech will mark a point for which the development startups and social enterprises are to be used as levers of innovative solutions in the spheres of sustainable mobility and environmental protection.
Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Dialogue India 2024
Mercedez-Benz Sustainability Dialogue India 2024: a platform where thought leaders, innovators, and changemakers came together to deliberate on the latest perspectives, initiatives, and innovations leading toward the future of mobility. It provided an avenue to discuss how technology, policy, and industry collaboration can help advance sustainability goals.
In the event, Brüngger and Saale debated with various stakeholders on how the automotive industry could continue toward a more sustainable approach. Specific topics ranged from decarbonization strategies, responsible sourcing to the role of innovation as an enabler toward long-term sustainability.
With the establishment of the new Centres of Excellence within the Sustainability Garage, Mercedes-Benz will be significantly enabled to contribute toward global sustainability. By providing support for social enterprises in sustainable mobility and environmental innovation, MBRDI is encouraging innovation while ensuring such solutions can take root and create impact that lasts in society and the environment.
Conclusion
The setting up of the new Centres of Excellence in Hyderabad and New Delhi further expands the Sustainability Garage, marking a big stride in the journey of Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to sustainability. Providing support for social enterprises in fostering innovation in the field of sustainable mobility and environmental protection, Mercedes-Benz is serious about taking the lead in the global journey towards a more sustainable future.
The initiatives announced at the Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Dialogue India 2024 reflect the commitment toward creating further value in sustainability across all verticals. As the automotive industry is fast evolving, the role of sustainability for Mercedes-Benz has become imperative in redefining the face of mobility.
Source: Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India