Vice president of Beijing Benz: The city offers many opportunities

Five years ago, Beijing Benz Automotive Co Ltd didn't have any electric vehicles. But today, it has four electric car lines.

Markus Keller, the company's vice president of quality management and R&D, has witnessed the automaker's switch from combustion to electric power for vehicles.

“China is already the largest single market right now, and China is as well the largest NEV (new energy vehicle) market. So combining these two factors, the Chinese market is in the next few years a very, very important key player to the success of the entire company,” Keller said.

Having lived and worked in Beijing for several years, Keller said the city offers many opportunities, adding that the team he works with is quite talented. “It is really a young, ambitious team which is mainly solution-oriented, process-driven, focusing on delivering the task and making sure we create the next Chinese miracle,” he said.

On Sunday afternoons, Keller likes to rent a bike and go to the hutong, or traditional alleyways, around the Lama Temple, Houhai Lake and the Palace Museum.

“It's incredible what you can experience here in Beijing,” he said, “whether it's with the culture, the history, or the new digitalization ways.”

As for keeping a good balance between work and life, Keller said he always tries to enjoy work, which is a key element for him. “Joy at work, have fun,” he said.