DR CLAUS WEIDNER

PRESIDENT & CEO MERCEDES-BENZ MALAYSIA

How can brands retain their relevance amid the challenging business environment?

By constantly evaluating brand efforts from a strategic point, leveraging data and technology to effectively predict trends and gain a deeper understanding of customers. This builds loyalty and ensures a consistent experience for customers across touch points.

Companies are cautious and cutting costs in the wake of the growing risk brought on by the ongoing Us-china trade war. Has this affected your branding strategy?

Mercedes-benz Malaysia places customer-centricity at the core of the business. Our leading market share in the country is a result of our continuous commitment to provide customers with a brand experience of a strong product portfolio, excellent after sales, and robust financial services. Is championing for a cause paramount in brand building besides vying for a stronger market presence?

When a brand is associated to a cause, it is crucial to inculcate every tiny detail of the cause in the brand’s DNA. “First Move the World” is our purpose and it means going beyond immediate objectives and committing to the future of mobility.

It lays the foundation of our sustainable business strategy “Ambition 2039”.

How can a brand stand out amidst the digital wave and rising consumer expectations?

These tie back to our focus in customer-centric strategy. We are now taking the next major step by being available on numerous channels along the customer journey, more agile towards changing trends to drive seamless experiences and catering relevantly and valuably to different audience segments.