Move Together 2025: How MB.ioneers Turned Kilometres Into Impact

What happens when hundreds of MB.ioneers across countries and time zones decide to turn their movement into meaning? That’s the spirit behind the Move Together Challenge, our annual call to fight the winter blues through movement where every kilometre turns into donations to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Portugal and Germany.

In 2025, the challenge grew stronger than ever. From quiet morning walks and competitive weekend rides to rainy day runs and tournament wins, MB.ioneers acted with intention, not to win awards, but to make a meaningful difference.

We spoke with the 11 winners from this last edition to understand what inspired them, what kept them going, and what moments stayed with them long after the last step.

From Personal Goals to Shared Purpose

“I wasn’t just training for myself anymore, I was training for something”, said Pedro Salgueiro, one of the winners of this year’s challenge (3rd in running, 2nd in cycling). A lifelong athlete, Pedro was no stranger to pushing limits, but the Move Together Challenge added a new dimension: purpose. “Every kilometre could turn into real support for a charity, and that changes how you show up."

Across all categories, that sentiment echoed. For Filomena Cardoso, 3rd place in walking, the appeal was simple: “Movement can go beyond physical activity and become a way to support others. That aligns so much with my values, as a designer and as a person.”

And for newcomers like Márcia Matsumoto (3rd place in cycling), the challenge became a welcome motivator: “It was my first year at Mercedes-Benz.io. This gave me the push to keep moving. Seeing everyone post, cheer each other on… it was contagious.”

Movement with a Human Touch

There’s no doubt the statistics were impressive: Nikolaus “Niki” Kober (1st in cycling) cycled an astonishing 1,150 kilometres, and Kim Felix (1st in running) covered 181 kilometres on foot. However, what truly made the challenge memorable were the personal stories and motivations behind these achievements, revealing the passion and purpose that fuelled every kilometre.

Like Philipp Tegethof, who clocked 270 kilometres walking alongside his Labrador, Cooper; or Andrés Chavarria, whose daily “vlog walks” by the beach turned into a creative ritual, “it’s my secret weapon for problem-solving,” he said, “and it connects me to the tribe in a way that pixels can’t."

On the other hand, Khrystyna Dratovana, used the challenge to rewire her post-work habits. “I started walking instead of driving to workouts. I extended dog walks. I turned activity into mindfulness. And all of it was for a cause.”

These weren’t just steps, they were choices. Small ones, repeated daily, that added up to something bigger than fitness goals.

Warning: cute dogs below!

The Unseen Wins

“Sometimes, you don’t even realise how much this shapes your mindset,” said Sarah Cunha, who joined the challenge after picking up a new sport (Padel) earlier this year. “I wasn’t just staying active. I was building discipline, building community.”

And again! There were no medals or participation certificates. But there were laughs, rainstorms, group rides, unexpected tournaments, and Spotify playlists on repeat. There were quiet mornings, soaked shoes and shared leaderboards that turned into group chats.

Ricardo Mano, a runner and marathon trainee, summed it up well: “I finished a race next to our Mercedes star in Stuttgart. That’s not something I’ll forget.”

Community in Motion

What the Move Together Challenge sparked was a sense of belonging. After several editions, it became a way to connect across departments, countries, and calendars. “It humanises us,” said Andrés. “You see who surfs. Who hikes. Who runs at 6 AM in the rain.”

Ruben Muchaxo (2nd place, Other Modalities) added “Even if you're only moving 1km, it’s still movement, for your health and for the community. That’s what matters.”

For Pedro, it was the shared effort that stood out. “We encouraged each other, we laughed through the pain, and we kept going. That’s culture, not just what happens in projects, but in how we show up for each other.”

So, What Sticks?

Now that the challenge is over, the big question is: what remains?

For some, it’s physical habits — Philipp is aiming for an average of 15,000 steps in 2026, Márcia wants to beat her own cycling record and Filomena is preparing for mountain treks during her holidays. Others are keeping the spirit alive in more subtle ways, like walking meetings, mindful movement, or simply choosing to take the long way home.

But perhaps the most important takeaway was said best by Khrystyna: “It wasn’t just about staying active, it became meaningful and once that clicks, you don’t really want to stop.”