Photo: S. Baldauf/Guido ten Brink
There's a website called Kim Jong-Un Looking at Things where all you can find are pictures of the North Korean leader... looking at things. It sounds like something you'd easily get bored with, but give it a try. It's surprisingly addictive.
You might not know this if you've lived all your life in a capitalist country, but communist leaders have to make visits to factories, research centers, bread stores - you name it. But they can't just pop their heads in, say "good morning" and leave. The respective facility's director has to lecture them on how things work, and they have to pretend they understand. Hence the extremely focused, deep thinking look on their faces.
We're not going to compare Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Daimler CEO and arguably the star of this year's edition of the Paris Motor Show, to a communist leader - let alone Kim Jong-Un - but you have to admit that seeing him at the competitors' stands looking at things can remind you of those images a little. With the very significant difference that he definitely understands what he sees.
Mercedes-Benz is going through a transformation, something that was reflected in Mr. Zetsche's looks as well. Gone was the elegant suit and in came a smart-casual outfit that had a very "electro-look" to it. After the big presentation of the EQ electric mobility brand and the Generation EQ Concept, Dr. Dieter Zetsche took a tour of the other stands to get a feel for what the competition is doing.
He seems to have paid the greatest deal of interest to electric and hybrid cars, but it's not like he had much choice. Almost every other car in Paris had some sort of electrification under the hood. Besides, with the current turn his company is taking and its proclaimed view of the future, it would have been if he did otherwise.
The Volkswagen I.D. Concept took most of Dr. Zetsche's time, with the CEO inspecting it inside and out. Like a good poker player, it's hard to tell what he thought of it, but the simple fact he took his time to analyze its every detail says something on its own. He also had a look at the Skoda Kodiaq, the Czech manufacturer's first real SUV and what will definitely be a sales success.
After a short stop at hybrid specialist Lexus, it was time to see Mercedes-Benz's Stuttgart neighbors, Porsche, who also happened to have a hybrid on display. Mr. Zetsche would have probably been more curious to see the Mission E, but its time hasn't come yet. Don't be surprised if at some future motor show, it will be Porsche's turn to announce its preparations for the future.
We'd like to thank Dr. Dieter Zetsche for taking us along with him on this tour and invite you to have a look at the image gallery to the right. However, don't expect to see any particular reactions on the face of the Daimler CEO: you don't get in positions such as this without being able to control your emotions.
We're not going to compare Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Daimler CEO and arguably the star of this year's edition of the Paris Motor Show, to a communist leader - let alone Kim Jong-Un - but you have to admit that seeing him at the competitors' stands looking at things can remind you of those images a little. With the very significant difference that he definitely understands what he sees.
Mercedes-Benz is going through a transformation, something that was reflected in Mr. Zetsche's looks as well. Gone was the elegant suit and in came a smart-casual outfit that had a very "electro-look" to it. After the big presentation of the EQ electric mobility brand and the Generation EQ Concept, Dr. Dieter Zetsche took a tour of the other stands to get a feel for what the competition is doing.
He seems to have paid the greatest deal of interest to electric and hybrid cars, but it's not like he had much choice. Almost every other car in Paris had some sort of electrification under the hood. Besides, with the current turn his company is taking and its proclaimed view of the future, it would have been if he did otherwise.
The Volkswagen I.D. Concept took most of Dr. Zetsche's time, with the CEO inspecting it inside and out. Like a good poker player, it's hard to tell what he thought of it, but the simple fact he took his time to analyze its every detail says something on its own. He also had a look at the Skoda Kodiaq, the Czech manufacturer's first real SUV and what will definitely be a sales success.
After a short stop at hybrid specialist Lexus, it was time to see Mercedes-Benz's Stuttgart neighbors, Porsche, who also happened to have a hybrid on display. Mr. Zetsche would have probably been more curious to see the Mission E, but its time hasn't come yet. Don't be surprised if at some future motor show, it will be Porsche's turn to announce its preparations for the future.
We'd like to thank Dr. Dieter Zetsche for taking us along with him on this tour and invite you to have a look at the image gallery to the right. However, don't expect to see any particular reactions on the face of the Daimler CEO: you don't get in positions such as this without being able to control your emotions.
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