Annette Winkle

Annette Winkle, former global head and CEO of the Mercedes Benz Smart brand, is one of the top three female executives at Daimler Group. In 2014, she once again introduced smart fortwo and fortfour, urban cars with agile size and spatial feel, which can use multiple energy sources such as gas, gasoline, or electricity, and are more agile. Winkle has been described by colleagues as a battery that is always fully charged, addressing all the challenges related to smart fortwo. Smart fortwo is still the most agile car in the world, with smaller turning radius, more flexibility, comfort, technology, safety, efficiency, and attractiveness compared to other competing brands. Under her leadership, the team applied cutting-edge technology and innovative thinking to design future smart concept cars for more efficient energy and performance. During her tenure, Mercedes Benz has made multiple upgrades to its existing models, introduced more interesting equipment and marketing activities, and developed a new type of electric bicycle. Winkle also pioneered a sharing and leasing solution for smart cars, opened a subsidiary Car2Go, and successfully pioneered navigation services for customers. Winkle believes that smart cars, as a lifestyle choice, increasing urban mobility, and a solution to environmental issues, will play an important role in future global urban development.