· At a ceremony in the Louvre in Paris, French Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs and Industry Luc Chatel presented the award to plant managers Bhattacharya and Wolf

Paris/Bursa - The Bosch diesel plant in Bursa, Turkey, has been singled out for this year's "EFQM Business Excellence Award" in the "large scope, private sector" category. The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) has given this award in recognition of the Bosch location's comprehensive quality management, as well as of its successful and lasting implementation of the EFQM business excellence model. This makes Bosch the first company in Turkey ever to win Europe's highest quality prize for the second time. Bosch in Bursa won it for the first time in 2003. The award was presented by the French Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs and Industry Luc Chatel at a ceremony in the Louvre in Paris on October 28. The plant managers Soumitra Bhattacharya and Andreas Wolf accepted the EFQM Business Excellence Award on behalf of Bosch.

The EFQM promotes the application and dissemination of quality management systems based on the EFQM model. The aim of this model is to provide as complete a map as possible of an operation, or part of an operation, and to exhaustively improve its quality. The EFQM Excellence Award is regarded as Europe's highest award for business excellence. The award-winners have clearly demonstrated that their organizations stand for outstanding performance and excellent results. They act as models for others, and are regarded as the leading organizations in their sectors.

"We are delighted with this prestigious award. The prize is a just reward for the entire Bosch team in Bursa. It shows that their unflagging work to improve quality and business excellence has been worthwhile. Everyone there can be proud of what they have achieved, and I am proud of them," said Franz Fehrenbach, chairman of the Bosch board of management. "The award recognizes the excellent work done by all the Bosch associates at the Bursa diesel plant. Being awarded it for the second time is evidence of the constantly excellent performance and motivation of all our associates in Bursa," said Hermann Butz, managing director of Bosch Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., and Bosch Group representative in Turkey.

The award is presented annually by the European Foundation for Quality Management. This year, companies and public institutions from nearly every European country took part in the competition. An international panel of judges assessed the contestants according to nine different criteria and more than thirty sub-criteria. These criteria included the leadership and management of the company as a whole, corporate policy, strategy, leadership of associates, use of resources, and operating processes. In their assessment, the EFQM experts also took account of customer and associate satisfaction, social impact, and operating result.

The European Foundation for Quality Management was established by 14 companies - including Bosch - as a non-profit organization in 1989. Today, the EFQM has roughly 700 member companies. Their task is to be the driving force for lasting excellence in Europe.

With a total of roughly 8,300 associates, the Bosch Group generated sales of 731 million euros in Turkey in 2007. Some 6,000 associates work at its Bursa locations, developing and manufacturing automotive components for the automotive industry. Apart from diesel injection systems, which are the focus of its manufacturing activities, Bosch in Bursa also makes gasoline injection and brake systems components. In addition, Bosch produces industrial technologies in Bursa.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. According to preliminary figures, some 270,000 associates generated sales of roughly 38 billion euros in the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology in fiscal 2009. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 300 subsidiaries and regional companies in over 60 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Each year, Bosch spends more than 3.5 billion euros for research and development, and applies for over 3,000 patents worldwide. With all its products and services, Bosch enhances the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial. The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.” The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH. Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch.com.

PI6501 - October 29, 2008