Driving Toward a Carbon Neutral World: Daimler CEO Ola Källenius on Electric, Hydrogen and Autonomous Vehicles

Mobility
6/10/2021

​​​​​​​​Let’s take a ride into the future of automotive, to explore electric and assisted driving systems. In this episode of HARMAN’s interview series “The Next Wave,” Young Sohn talks with Daimler AG CEO and Head of Mercedes Benz Ola Källenius about everything from Mercedes’ upcoming EVs, Daimler’s goal to be CO2-neutral by 2039, their work with autonomous vehicles, and the effects COVID-19 had on the company.

Ola Källenius was born in Västervik, Sweden in 1969 and after finishing at the Grammar School of Danderyd, he served in the Swedish army in from 1988 to 1989. From 1989 to 1993 he studied at the Stockholm School of Economics, receiving a Masters in Finance and Accounting, and completed the CEMS Program (Master of International Management) at the University of St. Gallen. He joined the then Daimler-Benz AG as a trainee within the International Management Associate Program in 1993 and has been quickly rising the ranks at the company ever since.

Källenius has been a member of the Board of Management for Daimler AG since January 1, 2015, and Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG since May, 2019. He is also Chairman of the Board of Management for Mercedes-Benz AG and Chairman of the Supervisory Board for Daimler Truck AG.

Ola Källenius

Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG

Ola Källenius has been a member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG since January 1, 2015, and Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG since end of Annual Meeting of Daimler AG on May 22, 2019. He is also Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Daimler Truck AG.

Ola Källenius was born on June 11, 1969, in Västervik/Sweden. After obtaining Abitur (university entrance examination) at Grammar School of Danderyd (Sweden), he did his military service in the Swedish army in 1988/89. From 1989 until 1993 he studied at the Stockholm School of Economics (Master in Finance and Accounting) and the CEMS Programm (Master of International Management) at the University of St. Gallen. He joined the then Daimler-Benz AG as Trainee within the International Management Associate Program in 1993.

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