CEO 'well on track' with new Benz sales company

BMBS President and CEO Nicholas Speeks tells the audience at Auto Guangzhou 2013 that Mercedes-Benz is the first premium automaker to offer such a range of powertrains in China.[Photo / Provided to China Daily]

Formed in March, BMBS focus is customer care

After taking the helm 11 months ago as president and CEO of Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Co, Nicholas Speeks said he is certain he made the right decision.

"It's the only job in the world that matters," he said, wearing a pin with China's national flag. "China is my home now."

Newly released sales figures demonstrate a positive trend since the integrated BMBS began operations in March. It registered sales growth for eight consecutive months and today posted a 15 percent year-to-date increase.

"The integration brings all the functions together with one company and one mission we share," said Speeks. "We work together step-by-step and day-by-day in details, changing minds to be customer-oriented. Now we are extremely well on track with the new sales company."

But Speeks said the measure of success is not only sales numbers, but also by how well the company satisfies and serves local customers.

"We strive to provide a brand experience that is second to none, that is exceeding their expectations, lasting the entire duration of a customer's ownership of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle," said Speeks.

"Based on this philosophy, customer orientation has been and will continue to be a centerpiece of our strategy at Mercedes-Benz.

"Our hope is to build an even closer relationship with our customers here in China. And we will work to increase our efforts to be worthy of the trust and confidence our wonderful customers give us."

Speeks promised that next year "you will see further changes from BMBS that make me confident of the long-term success of Mercedes-Benz in China".

He reconfirmed "the importance of having Fred Duan as our executive vice-president of sales and marketing".

"With his experience, dedication and strong know-how in the auto industry, I can't think of anyone better to take on this important role," said Speeks.

"And of course, we will continue the aggressive product offensive to appeal our Chinese customers next year".

After working at Mercedes-Benz for more than 30 years in different countries, Speeks said he believes "localization is the core of our China strategy and key to sustainable development".

"The current success includes our strong local partner BAIC Group and we both will build further success in the future," said Speeks.

The two partners will jointly invest 4 billion euros ($5.4 billion) by 2015 for local production of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

On Monday, the company inaugurated its first engine plant outside Germany in Beijing.

"And of course locally produced cars and engines play a major role in our future development - so does local talent," said Speeks.

He said that the company's newly developed compact SUV GLA-Class will be the next model to be put into local production in Beijing, a move that will "further fuel our success".