Daimler Truck CEO: Electric Transition, Autonomous Vehicles and Cultural Change

In Good Company with Nicolai Tangen

Norges Bank Investment Management

In Good Company, Business, Norges Bank, Nicolai Tangen

4.8 • 186 Ratings

🗓️ 10 September 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How do you transform a 100-year-old trucking giant into a software-driven, zero-emission company? Karin Rådström, CEO of Daimler Truck, joins Nicolai Tangen to discuss the massive changes reshaping the trucking industry. They explore the shift from diesel to electric and hydrogen power, the development of autonomous vehicles, and the cultural transformation needed to accelerate innovation in a traditional German engineering company. Karin also opens up about her leadership philosophy of "tough love," her background as a Swedish national rowing champion, and what it's like being the first woman to lead a major truck manufacturer. With 105,000 employees worldwide, Daimler Truck is steering toward a sustainable future. Tune in for an inspiring conversation!

In Good Company is hosted by Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management. New full episodes every Wednesday, and don't miss our Highlight episodes every Friday.

The production team for this episode includes Isabelle Karlsson and PLAN-B's Niklas Figenschau Johansen, Sebastian Langvik-Hansen and Pål Huuse. Background research was conducted by David Høysæter.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	So today we are in very good company with Karin Rolström, the CEO and president of Daimla Truck,
0:06.1	which is the largest commercial vehicle producer in the world.
0:09.5	Karin has recently been named Sweden's most important businesswoman and Daimler Truck.
0:14.4	And at Diamond Truck, she is driving the conversion of legacy diesel champion into a future ready mobility powerhouse.
0:20.8	Now, Karin, you combine engineering background. Your... legacy diesel champion into a future ready mobility powerhouse.
0:26.9	Now, Colin, you combine engineering background, your Scania background with a background in elite sport.
0:27.2	So a warm welcome.
0:28.3	Thank you.
0:40.2	So now, you and I, we are going into a truck.
0:43.5	Okay, you are sitting in the driving seat.
0:44.2	I'm sitting next to you.
0:47.0	And now you're going to tell me what makes a good truck.
0:48.3	What do you look for?
0:53.3	Well, the cab is like the driver's living room.
0:56.7	So that's what I look for, basically.
0:58.0	Is it practical?
0:59.8	Is there storage space?
1:00.8	How's the bed?
1:05.3	Of course, also, how do you interact with the truck?
1:07.3	Yeah.
1:12.9	But honestly, I was thinking it didn't really change so much with all the new trends with electrification, digitalization. It's still a living room and a working office.
1:19.1	So when when people buy a truck, what do they look? What are the decisive elements? What is it that
	...

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