Electric Vehicles and the Future of the German Automobile Manufacturing - Part 1 Mr Harald Schlarb

Introduction and Career Background00:00:49

Harald Schlarb introduces himself, detailing his career path starting with an apprenticeship in mechanical tool making, followed by studies in mechanical and manufacturing engineering, and business economics. He spent 36 years at Mercedes-Benz before joining Tesla to build the Berlin plant.

Notable Projects at Mercedes-Benz00:02:25

Schlarb recounts successful projects at Mercedes-Benz, including the reintroduction of a famous car from the 1930s, working on armored S-Class vehicles for high-profile figures worldwide, and the joint venture with McLaren to produce the SLR McLaren sports car.

International Experience: Romania and China00:06:01

He describes his experiences working in Romania as a quality manager, emphasizing the cultural difference, and then moving to China to set up plants in Fuzhou and Beijing for Vito, Viano, Sprinter, E-Class, and C-Class models.

Building the Tesla Gigafactory in Berlin00:08:59

Schlarb discusses his impactful three years at Tesla, where he was responsible for setting up the Gigafactory in Berlin. He highlights the challenges, such as clearing 90 hectares of forest within strict environmental deadlines and Elon Musk's genius in pushing boundaries.

Team Leadership and Advice00:12:42

He emphasizes the importance of effective team management, including identifying individual strengths, strategic placement of personnel, and making tough decisions to ensure team efficiency, citing Elon Musk's approach to necessary changes within companies.

The Role of Competition and Innovation00:15:35

Schlarb differentiates between unproductive internal competition for positions and a healthy competition focused on innovation and moving the world forward. He advocates for employees to think like employers for the greater good of the company and society.

Focus on Sustainable Energy and Ecosystem Problems00:17:32

He stresses the critical need for innovation in sustainable energy, particularly harnessing solar power. He argues against fear-mongering and restrictive regulations, suggesting that people need to see the personal and societal benefits of adopting sustainable practices to drive progress in addressing ecosystem problems.