Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore

MEWR News Release: 15/2004

Date Published: 19 Jul 2004

Dr Rainer Thiel (CEO, DaimlerChrysler, Southeast Asia)

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

We are here this morning to witness the handing over of the Mercedes Benz fuel cell car by DaimlerChrysler to the National Environment

Agency (NEA) for test bedding. This is indeed an exciting event, because this Mercedes Benz fuel cell car is not only the first in Singapore, but also in Asia, apart for Japan.

2 About three years ago, DaimlerChrysler, a world leader in the development of fuel cell cars, selected Singapore, together with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berlin and Tokyo, as the five cities for its F-Cell Global Partnership Programme. A fleet of 6 fuel cell cars will be test driven in Singapore, with the support of the Singapore Initiative in New Energy Technology (SINERGY).

3 The test bedding of fuel cell and other environment-friendly vehicles is in line with our efforts to promote the use of cleaner and greener energy. It also supports our efforts in positioning Singapore as an early adopter of new and promising technologies so as to help strengthen our

foundation for sustainable development.

4 The launch of fuel cell car in Singapore today will help spur other initiatives relating to the development and application of fuel cell technology. Several transportation and stationary applications of fuel cell systems are already being pursued. There will be more to come. It demonstrates the advantage of close co-operation between the private and public sectors. It is indeed a win-win partnership for DaimlerChrysler, Singapore, and all parties involved.

5 Our win-win partnership with Daimler Chrysler goes far beyond this fuel cell vehicle project. DaimlerChrysler has been operating in Singapore since the 1980s, and today uses Singapore as a base to provide many services to the region. Its Singapore Regional Logistics Centre for vehicle parts and components here is the largest for the company in the Asia Pacific, and services 26 centres in the region. Singapore is also

proud to be DaimlerChrysler's regional headquarters in Southeast Asia, and to host its regional training centre. We look forward to expanding and deepening our strategic partnership with DaimlerChrysler.

6 I would like to conclude by congratulating DaimlerChrysler and its partners on the successful launch of the Fuel Cell Vehicle test-bedding project today, here in Singapore. I thank you for your support, and your confidence in us. I wish you success in this exciting endeavour. Thank you.


	MEWR News Release: 15/2004 Date Published: 19 Jul 2004 Dr Rainer Thiel (CEO, DaimlerChrysler, Southeast Asia) Distinguished Guests Ladies and Gentlemen We are here this morning to witness the handing over of the Mercedes Benz fuel cell car by DaimlerChrysler to the National Environment Agency (NEA) for test bedding. This is indeed an exciting event, because this Mercedes Benz fuel cell car is not only the first in Singapore, but also in Asia, apart for Japan. 2 About three years ago, DaimlerChrysler, a world leader in the development of fuel cell cars, selected Singapore, together with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berlin and Tokyo, as the five cities for its F-Cell Global Partnership Programme. A fleet of 6 fuel cell cars will be test driven in Singapore, with the support of the Singapore Initiative in New Energy Technology (SINERGY). 3 The test bedding of fuel cell and other environment-friendly vehicles is in line with our efforts to promote the use of cleaner and greener energy. It also supports our efforts in positioning Singapore as an early adopter of new and promising technologies so as to help strengthen our foundation for sustainable development. 4 The launch of fuel cell car in Singapore today will help spur other initiatives relating to the development and application of fuel cell technology. Several transportation and stationary applications of fuel cell systems are already being pursued. There will be more to come. It demonstrates the advantage of close co-operation between the private and public sectors. It is indeed a win-win partnership for DaimlerChrysler, Singapore, and all parties involved. 5 Our win-win partnership with Daimler Chrysler goes far beyond this fuel cell vehicle project. DaimlerChrysler has been operating in Singapore since the 1980s, and today uses Singapore as a base to provide many services to the region. Its Singapore Regional Logistics Centre for vehicle parts and components here is the largest for the company in the Asia Pacific, and services 26 centres in the region. Singapore is also proud to be DaimlerChrysler's regional headquarters in Southeast Asia, and to host its regional training centre. We look forward to expanding and deepening our strategic partnership with DaimlerChrysler. 6 I would like to conclude by congratulating DaimlerChrysler and its partners on the successful launch of the Fuel Cell Vehicle test-bedding project today, here in Singapore. I thank you for your support, and your confidence in us. I wish you success in this exciting endeavour. Thank you.