Meet Gesa Reimelt – Head of Product Engineering ePowertrain & Global Powertrain at Daimler Truck in our interview series ‘5+1’. 

Formerly part of Daimler AG, the company has been a leading force in switching to more sustainable practices within the automotive industry with its use of EV batteries and hydrogen for long-haul transport. Gesa started working for them in 2001, and as her focus is ePowertrain and Global Powertrain, she is very much concerned with the ways in which the industry can develop new and more sustainable electric engines. In this interview, you will learn about her career path, her view on the future of mobility, and of course her current job and being a woman in the industry.

1. You started working at Mercedes-Benz Group AG (former Daimler AG) in 2001. What led you to the automotive industry? What then drove you to make the switch to e-mobility in 2018? 

The topic of individual mobility has always fascinated me. Especially the beautiful cars of Mercedes-Benz. They are a kind of engineering art to me. For example, when I drive the EQS – my eyes get shiny. This is why my dream has always been to work in Engineering.

However, like so many other career paths, also mine didn’t take me there right away. Instead, I started my career in Controlling before I finally got the chance to join Powertrain Engineering in 2012. Working on the powertrain as the heart of the car or truck was fantastic. The powertrain is an essential factor of modern individual mobility – without modern powertrains we would still drive carriages. Yet, we knew that, in order to preserve a world worth living in for future generations, the powertrain of the future would have to change. We developed hybrids and plug-ins and so I entered the world of high-voltage propulsion rather seamlessly.

When I finally got the opportunity to bring e-mobility to the truck world, it was like a dream come true. In my new role as Head of Global (e)Powertrain Engineering for Daimler Truck, I simply want to develop the best powertrain today, and in the future. For example, I will never forget the moment when I got to drive the first test vehicle of our electric series truck on the driveway. That's where you make history.  

At the same time, diesel technology will also be with us for a long time to come and remains an interesting field, in which we are constantly developing our engines and powertrains further to make them even more efficient with less emissions. Finally, fuel cell vehicles are now added to the propulsion mix. You can tell that these are very exciting times! Many developers dream of writing history with their inventions and now we're ready to do so - and I am allowed to steer it - that's what really drives me.

2. What has been the responsibility of Daimler Truck to switch to more sustainable practices? How is the use of EV batteries and hydrogen changing long-haul transport?

Daimler Truck is one of the largest manufacturers of trucks and buses with seven strong brands and a truly global presence. Developing and pioneering new technologies has always been part of our company. Moreover, we have been clearly committed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and thus the decarbonization of our industry. Which means that we aim to offer only new vehicles that are carbon-neutral in driving operation in Europe, Japan and North America by 2039. To achieve this goal, we are electrifying our vehicles — powered by either batteries or hydrogen-based fuel cells, depending on the customer's use case. The use of new drive technologies for long-haul transport requires us to make transport smarter. We need to know when which vehicle needs to be charged or refuelled with hydrogen and for example make full use of mandatory breaks for drivers to recharge the trucks. But of course, thinking from the driver’s perspective, the future of long-haul transport with alternative drives will be more relaxed, comfortable, and quiet.

3. Can you tell us a bit about what it's like being the Head of Product Engineering ePowertrain & Global Powertrain? Did you face any challenges during your career due to being a woman? 

This position has never been held by a woman before. So yes, for sure there were critical voices asking: is she capable? Will she make it? When I resumed this position, I received a lot of positive feedback from all over the world and especially from women who have encouraged me and who were happy to see that a woman and a mother takes this career step. That showed me that I have already contributed with this step to diversity. To encourage other women – yes, you can make it. Also in Engineering.

Of course, I have faced many challenges during my career, some also due to being a woman. When I signed my expat contract for China for example, a top manager asked me: do you really want to do this? To go abroad? Are you sure that you will be accepted? And my answer was clearly ‘yes’. Why shouldn’t I?

Or when I started in Engineering, 10 years ago, another top executive asked me how we could set-up the new assignment in a way that the first 6 months would be regarded as a “warm-up phase” where it would not be held against me in case I made mistakes?

But in general this was advice with good intentions in mind. These questions were asked because they were caring about me – but would they have asked a man the same?

In general, we all – no matter if woman or man - face funny things and sometimes unexpected hurdles while we pursue our career.

4. What is your vision for the future of e-mobility and what will long-haul transport look like in 2030?

In 2030, we will offer a comprehensive portfolio of CO2-neutral trucks and buses to ensure the transport industry can meet its sustainability goals. However, we cannot do that alone. I hope that by then, other businesses and governments will have installed the necessary infrastructure, such as a comprehensive network of electric charging and hydrogen refuelling stations. When taking a closer look at long-haul transportation, our customers have many different use cases and transportation tasks to handle. Therefore, the combination of battery-electric and hydrogen-based technologies enables Daimler Truck to offer customers the best vehicle options for their specific use cases. The lighter the load and the more plannable the routes, battery-electric drives can make perfect sense. For customers with heavier loads and longer routes who also need a high degree of flexibility, we believe fuel-cell trucks will do the better job.

5. What is your advice for women who are starting a career in the mobility industry? 

First, I would say that it is very important to have fun and to be passionate about your job – in my eyes that is a perquisite to be successful! The transportation industry is currently undergoing the biggest transformation of all times. There are many challenges to solve – that’s why a pioneering spirit is so essential! With the right attitude and an interest in technical topics, women have the chance to set many things in motion – especially at Daimler Truck, where women are wanted and sponsored in their career! In addition, team spirit and openness are for sure needed more than ever – since it is only all of us together who can tackle the challenges ahead in order to offer our children a future that is worthwhile living in. The dedication of every individual counts – of every man and every woman! And don’t shy away because it is Engineering! My mother always said: if more women had decided to join Engineering, many useful things would have been developed earlier. Because we have a tendency to focus more on building to solve.

And the +1 question from Gesa to you:

What were your biggest challenges as a woman in reaching your life-goals?

Thank you Gesa for the very inspiring interview.

Pictures: Daimler Truck
Interview: Britta Reineke