Office Manager Berlin in the External Relations department of MAHLE

MAHLE is a global group. 77,000 employees at 170 production locations, founded in 1920. MAHLE is one of the leading international development partners and suppliers to the automotive industry and a pioneer for the mobility of tomorrow. The group has had an office in the capital since 2017. Address: Satellite Office, Unter den Linden.

What prompted MAHLE to set up an office in the capital?

Hannes Christoph Bächle: “Mahle decided to set up a politics department in 2016. On the one hand, we have grown significantly as a Group, and on the other, federal and European politics affect many decisions that directly affect us as a company. We can and want to contribute to this by providing technology-oriented assessments on political issues and being a discussion partner for politicians.

Hannes Christoph Bächle has his office at Satellite Office, Unter den Linden. It’s a two-person office with a small meeting table. How did you come to work at Satellite Office?
Hannes Christoph Bächle: “I started out looking for an empty office, but then quickly realized that what was available in Berlin in a central location was expensive and inflexible. A shared office concept makes sense for MAHLE. We looked at a lot of places, but quickly decided on Satellite Office “Unter den Linden”. The walking distance to the Bundestag, but also the bright, friendly atmosphere and the possibility of spontaneously booking offices and Conference Rooms is very flexible. We have not regretted it, we would do it again.

What exactly is Mahle’s business segment?
Hannes Christoph Bächle: “From two-wheelers to cars, commercial vehicles and ships, you will find MAHLE components for the powertrain and thermal management in vehicles all over the world – in vehicles with combustion engines as well as in electric vehicles. The Group is making a significant contribution to actively shaping the future of mobility.”

So Mahle is also working on future urban mobility issues?
Hannes Christoph Bächle: “It goes beyond the urban area, it is the fundamental question of mobility and in particular the compatibility of individual mobility on the one hand and climate and environmental protection on the other. These issues represent an enormous challenge for us and the entire automotive industry. MAHLE has adopted a dual strategy: As a company, we come from the combustion engine with our products. We will continue to develop this technology in the future. The other part of the dual strategy is concerned with alternative drives, particularly electric driving. MAHLE will consistently pursue both paths. This dual approach strategy also forms the basis for our external contacts. In view of the various drive technologies in the passenger car market in the coming years, we are promoting a multi-path climate policy in order to achieve ambitious targets. We firmly believe that climate policy based on battery electric vehicles alone will not be enough. In short: Binding greenhouse gas regulation is right and understandable, but its fulfillment must be subject to technological neutrality.

What is your role in the Group?
Hannes Christoph Bächle: “I manage the Berlin office in the External Relations department, other companies call it the Group Representative Office. Since March 2017, we have been working very hard to establish contacts here, e.g. with associations. But I also maintain a direct exchange with politicians. Be it members of parliament or ministries that have to do with automotive issues. Conversely, I inform various contacts and experts in the company about current and expected political developments.

How important is the address “Unter den Linden”?
Hannes Christoph Bächle: “The address Unter den Linden is a statement that as a company you want to arrive in political Berlin. However, it is customary for company representatives to go to politicians, which is a certain sign. However, we have also had the situation where members of parliament have come to us when they are looking for an in-depth technical exchange. I then regularly bring in our experts from Stuttgart, so the meeting at Satellite Office in the conference room makes sense.”

Your company deals with questions about the future. Satellite Office is too. For us, it’s all about mobile working, digitalization and the changing demands on workplaces. What is your attitude to this, would you like to make a prediction?
Hannes Christoph Bächle: “I would say that my working behavior has changed a lot. I like being in my office at Satellite Office, but I’m also often on business trips. Once a month I visit my political colleagues in Brussels and the company headquarters in Stuttgart, and I have appointments all over Germany. I work on the train or at the airport and I’m happy with that because I didn’t want to be permanently tied to an office.
I am convinced that the work culture will continue to change, not only for people who work in small offices in the capital, but also for corporate headquarters. But I make sure that I have time to put down my laptop and cell phone and head out into the countryside.

Do you also work at other Satellite Office locations?
Hannes Christoph Bächle: “Not yet, but that was a time problem. The opportunity is very positive and I haven’t forgotten Frankfurt and Munich could be interesting for me.”

Thank you very much for the interesting conversation, Mr. Bächle!
The interview was conducted by Annette Kissing for Satellite Office.