In this intimate interview, Climate Pledge filmmaker, Carla Dauden, sits down with Jasmin Eichler, Director of Future Technologies at Mercedes-Benz, at the research Campus Arena2036 in Germany to share Mercedes' vision and actions towards a sustainable, electric-led future of driving.

Filmmaker: What role has the automobile industry played in driving up carbon emissions? And why is it so critical that the automobile industry takes action?

Jasmin: The automotive industry has been providing mobility and freedom for a long time, and now we know that we have to do it in a more sustainable way. We know that we have to transition to electric. And this is really a mission that we have fully embraced. There is so much that we can still optimize inside the car and technologically outside the car with regards to infrastructure and charging possibilities. The changes are just beginning.

Filmmaker: Can you tell us more about the Climate Pledge and why Mercedes-Benz made the commitment to join?

Jasmin: The Climate Pledge is a meeting of minds where companies come together to push sustainability goals forward from the Paris Agreement, ten years early or sooner. We are targeting carbon neutrality by at least 2039, which is, in my opinion, an ambitious goal, but an achievable goal. Ambitious goals are there to challenge us, to see what we can learn and how far we can go. We believe we are stronger together. We’re looking forward to working with The Climate Pledge and the other signatories who have already joined or will join in the future.

Filmmaker: How can companies make real change and innovate? Why is The Climate Pledge so important?

Jasmin: Ten years ago, the concept of sustainability was still not mainstream, but now even Wall Street has accepted that this is something worth investing in. Politics are changing, and overall, the society is changing and really embracing sustainability. This is now an exponential movement and we know that we can make it our own, we can shape it. It's about recognizing the power of it and not standing in the way of progress.

We need the consumers to also accept this change and to ask for it, of course. But we also need partners who are in the supply chain who can help us build good charging infrastructure. And I think that's the best part of The Climate Pledge--to make this global shift by working together throughout all kinds of industries. I really do truly believe in the power of the crowd in that sense.

Filmmaker: How is Mercedes-Benz changing their production?

Jasmin: Production is one of the most important parts of building cars because the car has to be mass produced in a very efficient way. When we started building our flagship cars, we also rethought the entire production process to be incredibly digital and avoid any kind of waste.

Filmmaker: What advice would you give to other companies on this journey towards sustainability?

Jasmin: Once you have accepted the inevitability of this change towards sustainability, you also have to accept the fact that you cannot do it alone. We need technology and supply chains ready for the sustainability journey as well. And this is why we tried to make sure that we have the best partners available to create this change and propel this change forward as a community. As The Climate Pledge consortium grows, we’ll continue to learn from each other and push ourselves.