“I have one of the most interesting jobs in the industry,” Markus Schäfer says with a smile. His words, though delivered with a hint of humor, ring undeniably true. As the chief technology officer of Mercedes-Benz, Schäfer is entrusted with an enormous scope of responsibility: overseeing the research and development of every vehicle bearing the three-pointed star.
“That ranges from Formula 1 responsibilities with [Mercedes F1 power unit specialist] High Performance Powertrains to overseeing the entire research and development side of Mercedes-Benz Cars, turning ideas into real products of the future,” he explains. “That’s a unique combination.”
Schäfer’s duties extend further. He holds a position on the Mercedes-Benz Group board and manages procurement. “I’m in charge of purchasing around 40 to 50 billion components, depending on the year, that go into cars,” he notes. “It’s busy these days.”
These are considerable responsibilities by any standard. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz currently offers one of the industry’s broadest and most varied vehicle selections, spanning both model types and powertrains. Compounding these obligations is the intensifying uncertainty surrounding electrification and the rapidly evolving legislative terrain. Schäfer acknowledges the challenge, describing it as “very, very challenging.”
“We don’t have a crystal ball, but we’re trying to anticipate what’s happening in the world and react accordingly when developing technology for this iconic brand,” he continues. “But what makes me confident is that we have a unique combination of different entities that no other company has.
“We have Formula 1 and motorsports. We have AMG, we have Maybach and we have Mercedes-Benz. And we have substantial funds to invest in research. That gives me the freedom to work with a great team to develop cars that do more than move you from A to B.”
To realize the benefits of such breadth, it must be carefully orchestrated. While espousing technology transfer is simply done, implementing knowledge gained from constructing hybrid F1 powertrains in Brixworth, UK, into the development of EVs in Stuttgart necessitates a complex process. The question then becomes: How does Schäfer accomplish this?
