08.09.2025

Press release

Automated mobility

30.01.2025

Press release

Bosch Group

Exercice 2022 : Bosch atteint ses objectifs dans un environnement difficile

Stuttgart, Allemagne – Malgré une situation macro-économique difficile, Bosch, fournisseur de technologies et de services, a réussi à augmenter ses ventes et son résultat pour l’exercice 2022. Selon les chiffres provisoires1, le groupe Bosch a réalisé un chiffre d’affaires de 88,4 milliards d’euros. Les ventes ont ainsi augmenté d’environ 12 % par rapport à 2021, 10 % hors effets de change. Le résultat opérationnel (EBIT) atteint 3,7 milliards d’euros. La marge opérationnelle s’élève à environ 4 %. « La difficile année 2022 a montré une fois de plus que Bosch est capable de faire face aux situations de crise tout en maintenant ses fortes capacités d’innovation », a déclaré Stefan Hartung, président du directoire de Robert Bosch GmbH, lors de la présentation des résultats provisoires du Groupe. « Dans un environnement qui reste difficile, nous garantissons nos opportunités de croissance à l’échelle mondiale grâce à des investissements ciblés et nous élargissons notre présence internationale. Nous voulons offrir aux personnes du monde entier « des technologie pour la vie » et apporter ainsi une contribution significative à la société – du chauffage plus respectueux de l’environnement aux économies d’énergie en passant par la mobilité durable. »Parmi les grands projets mis en avant lors de la présentation de ces résultats provisoires : • Bosch a récemment annoncé un investissement de près de 950 millions d’euros sur dix ans dans un centre d’ingénierie et de fabrication à Suzhou, en Chine. Le centre développera des solutions et produits pour la mobilité dans les domaines de l’électrification et de l’automatisation, spécialement conçus pour répondre aux besoins du marché local. • Bosch contribue également à renforcer la position de l’Europe en tant que place de haute technologie : « Un excellent exemple est le développement de nos usines de semi-conducteurs à Dresde et Reutlingen », a déclaré Stefan Hartung. « Jusqu’en 2026, nous envisageons d’investir 3 milliards d’euros supplémentaires dans notre activité de semi-conducteurs – cela contribuera à lutter contre la pénurie de puces dans le secteur de la mobilité. » • Bosch prévoit également de se concentrer davantage sur le développement de ses activités internationales, notamment en Égypte, en Inde, au Mexique, aux États-Unis et au Vietnam. La coopération internationale est essentielle à la prospérité et à l’action pour le climat Pour Bosch, la croissance dans les années à venir sera portée par les évolutions du marché et de l’environnement technologique, avec la connectivité, l’automatisation et l’électrification, ainsi que l’importance croissante de la durabilité. La demande croissante dans les régions émergentes telles que les pays de l’ASEAN offrira une opportunité de croissance supplémentaire. Dans ce contexte, Stefan Hartung estime que l’entreprise est bien positionnée dans la situation économique et énergétique actuelle. Cependant, les pénuries d’énergie à l’origine de l’inflation peuvent avoir un impact négatif sur la consommation et donc sur la stabilité monétaire à long terme. Pour cette raison, il se félicite de l’introduction d’une politique monétaire restrictive par la banque centrale. Dans le même temps, il met en garde contre la formation de blocs économiques mondiaux. Selon lui, « une fragmentation des systèmes économiques menace la force d’innovation et la prospérité de chacun ». « Plus important encore, l’action pour le climat a besoin d’une coopération internationale. » Stefan Hartung considère par ailleurs le développement des énergies renouvelables comme un moyen de résoudre les objectifs contradictoires de durabilité environnementale et économique. « La transformation des systèmes énergétiques doit rester abordable, ne doit pas entraîner de pannes d'électricité pour les entreprises ou les ménages, et doit, dans la mesure du possible, laisser de côté les combustibles fossiles. » Bosch contribue à cette transformation des systèmes énergétiques en accélérant le développement de la technologie des piles à combustible et de l’hydrogène. « En matière d’électromobilité, nous enregistrons un nombre de commandes en croissance constante », a déclaré Stefan Hartung. Bosch prévoit ainsi de réaliser un chiffre d’affaires de 6 milliards d’euros sur ce segment d’ici 2026. En Chine, les activités pour les essieux et les moteurs électriques devraient d’ores-et-déjà générer un bénéfice cette année. Technologies neutres pour le climat : la crise énergétique stimule la demande Malgré tous les défis qu’elle représente, la crise énergétique et climatique augmente la demande mondiale de technologies neutres pour le climat, ouvrant ainsi de nouvelles perspectives pour Bosch, sachant que l’entreprise génère déjà un chiffre d’affaires de plus de 20 milliards d’euros avec ses produits pour la maison. « Notre gamme de produits peut avoir un impact positif sur environ 90 % de la consommation d’énergie dans la maison », a déclaré Christian Fischer, vice-président du directoire de Bosch, qui est également responsable des activités de l’entreprise dans le domaine des technologies de la maison et du bâtiment. « Sur ce pourcentage, 85 % concernent le chauffage et l’eau chaude et 15 % les appareils électroménagers. » En Allemagne, Bosch a déjà augmenté ses ventes de pompes à chaleur de 50 % en 2022. Le marché européen des pompes à chaleur devrait connaître une croissance annuelle de 25 à 35 % d’ici 2025, et de près de 40 % chez Bosch, ce qui lui permettra de gagner des parts de marché. C’est pourquoi le groupe augmente sa capacité de production pour les pompes à chaleur en Europe : depuis le début de l’année, un nouveau site de production se développe à Eibelshausen, en Allemagne. Bosch voit un potentiel de croissance supplémentaire dans la transformation des systèmes énergétiques. « Cependant, cette transformation doit être abordable », a déclaré Christian Fischer. « Dans les bâtiments, il ne faut pas sous-estimer les coûts de rénovation. » C’est la raison pour laquelle Bosch privilégie les systèmes de chauffage hybrides associant pompe à chaleur et chaudière à gaz. Le vice-président du directoire de Bosch analyse ainsi un potentiel supplémentaire dans l’optimisation combinée des flux énergétiques dans les véhicules et dans les bâtiments : « nous électrifions tout, des vélos aux systèmes hydrauliques, et nous savons également comment le faire pour les bâtiments et les véhicules. » La durabilité, un atout pour attirer les nouveaux talents Bosch a également progressé en 2022 dans la mise en oeuvre de ses propres objectifs en matière de durabilité et de protection du climat. Au cours de l’année, la société a porté de 89 à 94 % la part des énergies renouvelables dans sa consommation d’électricité. « En 2022, nous avons atteint près de la moitié de l’objectif d’économie d’énergie de 1,7 térawattheure que nous nous sommes fixés pour 2030 », a déclaré Filiz Albrecht, membre du directoire et directrice des relations industrielles de Bosch, également responsable de la durabilité chez Bosch. « Notre engagement en faveur du développement durable fait de Bosch un employeur plus attractif ». Selon Filiz Albrecht, la stratégie de développement durable de l’entreprise joue un rôle de plus en plus important pour les candidats, particulièrement dans une période de pénurie de main d’oeuvre qualifiée, comme c’est le cas aujourd’hui. Elle a souligné que l’Inde gagne en importance dans la course aux experts en logiciels. Bosch y compte 17 000 Page 4 de 7 collaborateurs dans ce domaine et leur nombre est passé de 38 000 à 44 000 dans le monde, entre 2021 et 2022. Le besoin de développeurs de logiciels reste élevé et l’entreprise prévoit d’en recruter environ 10 000 de plus d’ici le milieu de la décennie. « Bosch va bientôt employer plus de 50 000 collaborateurs en développement de logiciels », a déclaré Filiz Albrecht. Le groupe Bosch développe également les compétences digitales de ses collaborateurs travaillant sur les lignes de production : cette année verra par exemple le lancement de « LernWerk », une initiative dans le secteur des solutions pour la mobilité. Son objectif premier est d’améliorer les compétences requises pour travailler dans « l’Usine du futur », et ce sur tous les sites en Allemagne. Évolution de l’activité en 2022 : le secteur de la mobilité affiche la plus forte croissance des ventes « Malgré la pénurie de semi-conducteurs et une un contexte économique complexe, tous les secteurs d’activité ont augmenté leurs ventes », a déclaré Markus Forschner, membre du directoire et directeur financier de Robert Bosch GmbH. Avec 52,6 milliards d’euros, le secteur des Solutions pour la mobilité, a une fois de plus généré les ventes les plus élevées en 2022. L’augmentation des ventes de 17 % représente une croissance de 12 % après ajustement des effets du taux de change. « La bonne nouvelle est que nos ventes ont augmenté plus rapidement que la production automobile », a déclaré Markus Forschner. Néanmoins, la rentabilité n’est pas encore satisfaisante : les marges ont été grevées par des augmentations de coûts tout au long de la chaîne logistique, ainsi que par des investissements nécessaires pour la transformation de l’entreprise dans le domaine de la mobilité, a-t-il déclaré. Le secteur des Techniques industrielles a enregistré une croissance de son chiffre d’affaires de 14 % pour atteindre 6,9 milliards d’euros. Après correction des effets de change, les ventes ont augmenté de 11 %. Selon Markus Forschner, l’achat d’HydraForce et l’acquisition d’Elmo sont des étapes importantes pour l’activité des Techniques industrielles de Bosch. Le secteur des Biens de consommation est parvenu à augmenter légèrement ses ventes malgré une forte réticence des consommateurs à acheter des appareils électroménagers et de l’outillage électroportatif, a déclaré Markus Forschner. Son chiffre d’affaires a augmenté de 2 % pour atteindre 21,5 milliards d’euros. Après correction des effets de change, ce chiffre passe à 3 %. Dans le secteur des Techniques pour les énergies et les bâtiments, la croissance reflète en revanche la forte demande de technologies performantes énergétiquement pour les maisons et les bâtiments, avec un chiffre d’affaires qui atteint les 7 milliards d’euros. Une augmentation de 15% qui représente 13% après correction des effets de change. Evolution de l’activité en 2022 : forte croissance au second semestre « Il est très encourageant de constater que toutes les régions ont enregistré une augmentation significative de leurs ventes », a déclaré Markus Forschner. « Nous avons connu une croissance particulièrement forte au second semestre 2022. » En Europe, le chiffre d’affaires s’élève à 44,8 milliards d’euros, soit une progression de 8%, 10% hors effets de change. « La croissance en Europe a été plus durement touchée que les autres régions par la guerre en Ukraine et ses conséquences », a déclaré Markus Forschner. En Amérique du Nord, le chiffre d’affaires a augmenté de 25 % pour atteindre 14,3 milliards d’euros. L’augmentation s’élève à 11 % après correction des effets de change, ce qui représente la deuxième plus grande progression du chiffre d’affaires de toutes les régions du groupe Bosch. Markus Forschner a souligné que le développement des activités de Bosch dans les solutions de chauffage et de climatisation était particulièrement prometteur. En Amérique du Sud, le chiffre d’affaires s’élève à 1,8 milliard d’euros. Les ventes y ont ainsi augmenté plus rapidement que dans toutes les autres régions, avec une augmentation de 30 %, ou 21 % hors effets de change. Comme l’a souligné Markus Forschner, « la vigueur de l’économie a été un facteur clé de cette croissance. » Dans la région Asie-Pacifique, le chiffre d’affaires a augmenté de 12 %, ou 8 %, hors effet de change, avec un chiffre d’affaires de 27,5 milliards d’euros. Selon Markus Forschner, la région a bénéficié d’une forte croissance en Inde. En revanche, les changements apportés par la Chine à sa politique sur la crise de Covid-19 ont freiné l’activité dans le pays à la fin de l’année. Evolution des effectifs en 2022 : 18 000 collaborateurs supplémentaires Au 31 décembre 2022, le groupe Bosch comptait dans le monde environ 420 300 collaborateurs. C’est environ 18 400 collaborateurs de plus que l’année précédente, ce qui représente une augmentation d’environ 4 %. 2 600 collaborateurs ont rejoint le groupe Bosch en Allemagne, portant ainsi le nombre total de collaborateurs à 133 400 personnes. « Près de la moitié de cette croissance concerne nos collaborateurs en recherche et développement », a déclaré Markus Forschner, avec près de 84 800 collaborateurs dans ce domaine, dont 44 000 ingénieurs en logiciels. Perspectives 2023 : ralentissement de la reprise économique mondiale Bosch prévoit un ralentissement économique et s'attend à ce que la production économique mondiale augmente de moins de 2 % pour l'année en cours. « Le climat économique mondial reflète déjà des pesanteurs économiques », a déclaré Markus Forschner. « La hausse des taux d'intérêt pèse sur les investissements, notamment sur l'activité de construction et sur la consommation privée. » En Europe, cette situation est aggravée par la hausse marquée des coûts énergétiques, même après les baisses récentes. En Chine, en revanche, après l’abandon de la politique zéro Covid, la reprise est susceptible de débuter une fois les vagues d’infection massives réduites. Selon Markus Forschner, Bosch ressent un ralentissement économique dans des secteurs importants et s’attend à une pression continue sur les coûts dans l’ensemble des chaînes de valeur. Dans le même temps, un investissement important doit être fait pour financer la croissance des technologies futures. « Une entreprise innovante comme Bosch doit faire de gros investissements », a-t-il déclaré. Courant 2023, poursuit-il, Bosch vise ainsi à augmenter ses ventes et à améliorer encore sa rentabilité. « Nous sommes en bonne voie d’atteindre notre objectif de marge à long terme d’au moins 7 % », a déclaré Markus Forschner. « Sur ces mers économiquement agitées, nous maintenons un équilibre entre la protection de notre rentabilité et de notre solidité financière d’une part, et les investissements et les acquisitions possibles d’autre part. »

28.02.2024

Press release

Bosch Group

For safer roads: Bosch teams up with Microsoft to explore new frontiers with gen ...

Stuttgart, Germany – It’s a scenario that no driver ever wants to see: a ball rolling out into the road. The chances are it will be followed immediately by a child in hot pursuit, oblivious to any traffic. But while human drivers can assess this situation using their contextual knowledge, today’s assisted and automated driving systems still have to learn how to do it. Bosch is pursuing the use of generative AI in terms to further improve automated driving functions. As part of this, Bosch and Microsoft are exploring opportunities to collaborate and leverage the power of generative AI. “Bosch is working on bringing a new dimension of AI applications into the vehicle,” said Dr. Stefan Hartung, chairman of the Bosch board of management, at this year’s Bosch Connected World (BCW) AIoT industry conference in Berlin. The expectation is that generative AI will enable vehicles to assess situations and react accordingly, and in this way keep road users even safer. Greater safety on the roads is also the wish of 60 percent of respondents to this year’s Bosch Tech Compass, a worldwide representative Bosch survey on the subjects of technology and AI.Generative AI to make road traffic safer The two companies anticipate that a collaboration would take the performance of automated driving functions to the next level. They would like to see generative AI help enhance convenience in the vehicle and to provide greater safety for all road users. To achieve this, Bosch's comprehensive understanding of vehicles and automotive-specific AI expertise will be invaluable, as well as their access to vehicle sensor data to feed the generative AI. “In our unwavering commitment to safer roads, Microsoft is eager to explore collaboration opportunities with Bosch to pioneer the realm of generative AI,” said Uli Homann, Microsoft CVP and Distinguished Architect. Even today, when it comes to training systems for automated driving, AI quickly comes up against its limits. Today’s driver assistance systems can detect people, animals, objects, and vehicles, but in the near future generative AI could help determine whether a situation could potentially lead to an accident. Generative AI utilizes vast amounts of data to train systems for automated driving, enabling them to draw improved conclusions from this data. For example, it could deduce whether an object on the road ahead is a plastic bag or a damaged vehicle part. This information can be used either to communicate directly with the driver – such as by displaying a warning – or to initiate appropriate driving maneuvers, such as braking while switching on the hazard warning lights. Bosch and Microsoft have already partnered to develop a universal software platform for seamlessly connecting cars and the cloud, and are looking forward to work together to identify new opportunities to bring cutting-edge AI technology to their customers and the autonomous vehicle industry. Generative AI as a boost to innovation “Generative AI is a boost to innovation. It can transform industry in much the same way as the invention of the computer,” says Tanja Rueckert, member of the Bosch board of management and chief digital officer. The new 2024 Bosch Tech Compass shows this as well: 64 percent of respondents believe that AI is the technology with the greatest importance for the future. In comparison, only 41 percent of respondents were of the same opinion just one year ago. From manufacturing to everyday office work, generative AI is already being used in many areas at Bosch. In addition to Microsoft, the company is working with several partners, including AWS, Google, and Aleph Alpha. The Bosch Group’s venture capital unit, Bosch Ventures, invested in the AI company Aleph Alpha last year. Bosch also announced it would collaborate with the startup on finding new use cases both for Bosch associates and customers. “Bosch and Aleph Alpha want to learn from each other, benefit from each other’s know-how, and work together on cross-domain use cases,” Rueckert says. This partnership is now bearing its first fruits in North America: in collaboration with Aleph Alpha, Bosch is debuting AI-based speech recognition on behalf of a premium car manufacturer. In this solution, a chatbot understands and answers breakdown service calls with the help of natural language processing, which also recognizes dialects, accents, and moods. The call is taken directly, reducing the driver’s waiting time to a minimum. As many as 40 percent of calls can be processed and resolved automatically; for more complex queries, the bot transmits all relevant information to a service center agent who takes over the case immediately. From the AI search engine to manufacturing AI experts at Bosch are currently working on well over 120 specific applications that these new AI models open up for the company’s associates and customers. Such applications include the generation of software program code or powerful chatbots and voicebots to support technicians or interact with consumers. Another is AskBosch, the in-house AI-assisted search engine launched at the end of 2023. It offers faster natural-language access to a wide variety of data sources – sources scattered over the intranet, say. In addition to externally available data, AskBosch also includes internal data sources, so Bosch associates can research information specific to the company. Generative AI also ensures greater speed in manufacturing: in initial projects in two Bosch plants in Germany, generative AI creates synthetic images in order to develop and scale AI solutions for optical inspection and optimize existing AI models. Bosch expects that this will reduce the time needed for planning, launching, and ramping up AI applications from the current six-to-twelve months to just a few weeks. Following successful piloting, this service for generating synthetic data is to be offered to all Bosch locations.

06.11.2023

Press release

Bosch Group

Climate-neutral building stock: Bosch increases heatpump production in Aveiro, P ...

Aveiro, Portugal / Eibelshausen, Germany / Stuttgart, Germany – Heat pumps are a key component of climate-neutral buildings. For this reason, Bosch is consistently pursuing its long-term strategy and investing in the ramp-up of its development and production capacity for heat pumps. Now, some 100 million euros are going to its Portuguese location in Aveiro, south of Porto, by 2026. The company plans to build new laboratories, two production buildings, and additional heat-pump production lines. This should also create several hundred new jobs there over the medium term. Alongside Eibelshausen in Germany and Tranås in Sweden, Aveiro is an important location in the European development and production network for heat pumps. Bosch will invest a total of more than one billion euros in expanding this network by the end of the decade. “We are pursuing a long-term strategy for our Home Comfort division. We want our sustainable product solutions to help consumers live a comfortable and climate-friendly lifestyle,” he adds.Bosch heat pumps: “made in Europe” The Bosch Home Comfort Group relies on a diversified portfolio to achieve climate targets in the building sector. Heat pumps and heat-pump hybrids are an essential element in decarbonizing the more than 200 million buildings located in Europe alone. “Our engineers, researchers, and developers work hand in hand within our manufacturing network to develop state-of-the-art heat pumps,” he adds. “With the high level of investment and further expansion coming to Aveiro, we’re driving the electrification of buildings and combining home comfort with green technology.” The Bosch Home Comfort Group has been developing and producing technologies for water heating in Aveiro for many years. The location is also home to the development of heat pumps for Southern Europe. In addition, the Aveiro plant will manufacture the outdoor units and wall-mounted indoor units for the next-generation, particularly quiet Compress 5800i AW and Compress 6800i AW heat pumps, which use the eco-friendly refrigerant propane. Experience gained in producing wall-mounted water heaters can feed into this. The Compress 5800i AW and Compress 6800i AW were developed jointly by various teams from Wernau (Germany) and Aveiro and produced in a manufacturing network with Aveiro, Eibelshausen, and Tranås. At the beginning of the year, a production line for the indoor unit of the next-generation heat pumps was started up in Eibelshausen. What sets the new line apart is that the storage tanks are inserted into the heat pump’s indoor unit before it leaves the plant; previously, this was handled by specialist dealers. This significantly reduces the installation time required by the end user, while increasing system robustness and shortening transport routes. The new line benefits from the Eibelshausen plant’s decades of experience in producing hot-water tanks. Tranås, as a long-standing Swedish heat-pump location, manufactures part of the outdoor units, drawing on its many years of experience with the technology. This location has been developing and manufacturing heat pumps for the Bosch Home Comfort Group since 2006. Its development focus is on products for the Northern European market. Heating systems are moving from the basement to the front yard The next-generation Compress 5800i AW and Compress 6800i AW heat pumps were developed in a user-experience approach together with specialists from the heating trade. The development focus was on design, functionality, and sound optimization. “Thanks to their horizontal format, the heat pumps can be placed in various positions, meaning, for example, that they integrate into the visuals of a yard or garden in an appealing way. All these characteristics play a crucial role in a customer’s decision to make a purchase,” adds Tino Hirsch, head of sales at Bosch Home Comfort in Germany. Comprehensive range of services for the heating trade The Bosch Home Comfort Group launched its first heat pump back in the 1970s. After it acquired the Swedish heat-pump manufacturer IVT in 2006, the company has continued to develop not only the products but also the heat-pump ecosystem, with an eye to making the equipment quick and easy for service engineers to install and simple for end users to operate. For example, thanks to their improved design, the next-generation heat pumps take up only 0.36 square meters of space. In addition, the Bosch Home Comfort Group and its brands support heating specialists to make their everyday work more efficient. One way is through the new foundation service, which offers heating professionals the option of ordering a precisely fitted foundation for the outdoor units of air-source heat pumps, thus outsourcing this non-technical activity. In cooperation with Bosch Power Tools, the Bosch Home Comfort brand offers tradespeople OfficeOn software to further increase their efficiency in planning, quoting, and invoicing and to help them with appointment coordination and timesheets. Press kit Bosch Heat pumps

20.12.2021

Press release

Bosch Group

Bosch at CES 2022: smart technology to make everyday life safe, convenient, and ...

Stuttgart, Germany, and Las Vegas, NV – Technology for all walks of life: at CES in Las Vegas, Bosch will be presenting connected, smart, and sustainable products and services for a better life – at home and on the road. From January 4 through 8, 2022, you will find Bosch at CES in the Central Hall, Booth #16103. CES Innovation Awards: Honoree for smart connected biking solution For its smart connected biking solution, Bosch eBike Systems has been named a CES® 2022 Innovation Award honoree in the “Vehicle Intelligence & Transportation” category. The CES® Innovation Awards are given by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).Smart connected biking solution – e-bike riding enjoyment 2.0: The new systems generation from Bosch eBike Systems merges the physical experience of riding an e-bike with the digital experience provided by connectivity and an app. This smart system comprises the new eBike Flow app, an LED user interface, color display, rechargeable battery, and drive unit. Over-the-air updates mean it can be continuously enhanced. The eBike Flow app opens up a range of new digital features for e-bikes, such as automatic activity tracking and personalized riding modes. Whether on the daily commute or a leisurely ride, the result is more enjoyment over longer distances. A Bosch must-see Bosch show car: The future of mobility is automated, connected, electrified, and personalized. In the future, more and more vehicles will be electrically powered. They will increasingly be connected with other road users and their surroundings, and provide personalized, cloud-based services for their occupants such as wrong-way driver alerts or road condition updates. The show car will demonstrate Bosch systems expertise and extensive know-how in software and hardware. For example, Bosch is developing central computers for the electronics architecture of the future. These vehicle computers will be used for assisted and automated driving, controlling vehicle motion, as well as for cockpit functions and body electronics. Over-the-air updates will keep cars’ functions constantly up to date. Virtual visor – the transparent digital sun visor: Conventional sun visors shield car drivers from dazzling light. But folding them down often also blocks significant areas of a driver’s field of vision. Bosch has solved this problem with a new, transparent LCD solution that replaces opaque visors. The virtual visor is connected to the interior monitoring camera, which detects the position of the driver’s eyes. Using AI-based intelligent algorithms, the virtual visor analyzes this information and darkens only the portion of the windshield through which the sun or other light sources would dazzle the driver. The rest remains transparent, leaving the driver’s view of the road unobstructed. SoundSee – intelligent ears for the ISS: Although barely bigger than a lunch box, Bosch’s SoundSee is brimming with start-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI). SoundSee can be found on the ISS (international space station). Installed on board Astrobee, NASA’s autonomous free-flying robot, SoundSee’s integrated microphones pick up ambient noise in space. Using AI, the Bosch technology then analyzes the audio data in order to detect potential anomalies and to flag areas requiring maintenance work. SoundSee was developed together with Astrobotic as part of a NASA research partnership. Software-based solutions for the mobility of today and tomorrow Solutions for the software-defined vehicle: Software is playing an increasingly central role in automotive engineering. After all, future connectivity, automation, and personalization functions will more than ever be brought about by software. Even now, Bosch annually puts more than 200 million control units running its proprietary software into vehicles worldwide. To achieve this, the company can draw on profound software, electronics, and systems expertise, and use this to develop application-specific vehicle software and the hardware to match for automotive applications of all kinds, from driver assistance and infotainment to the powertrain. Bosch plans to pool the development of application-independent basic software and middleware, as well as cloud-based software modules for over-the-air software updates, at its wholly owned subsidiary ETAS. Advanced driving module – pre-integrated components for electric cars: To make the development of electric cars less complex, and thus improve efficiency for automakers, Bosch offers pre-integrated modules such as its ADM advanced driving module. The ADM combines powertrain, brakes, and steering to form an integrated unit that automakers can incorporate faster and more cost-effectively into their vehicles. In addition, simplified interfaces and a standard software architecture ensure the best possible communication between the components, and provide the basis for new features. TPA technician process assistant – a digital handyman: The TPA technician process assistant is part of a connected after-sales ecosystem in which humans and machines exchange data as needed to efficiently repair and maintain vehicles. The system, which is continuously learning and evolving, is a hands-free, platform-agnostic solution that works with tablet, PC, and wearables. With the help of AI, moreover, a knowledge base has been created on the basis of information taken from traditional servicing operations. If more expertise is needed, a connection can be set up between an expert and the “eyes and ears” of the technician working on the vehicle. This helps improve accuracy and efficiency when servicing and repairing today’s ever more complex vehicles. Nevonex – connecting agriculture: Agriculture currently faces the challenge of securing food production in a changing climate. Here, Nevonex can help farmers by providing the necessary expert knowledge in the form of digitalized services. Nevonex allows these third-party services to be used in all makes of agricultural machinery – for example, to automate machine settings or optimize crop-planting processes. Bosch’s research here focuses on harnessing data from these processes to optimize subsequent process steps. The aim is to use edge computing to make robust, AI-based services available for farmers. A breath of fresh air – Bosch solution for better urban air quality: To improve air quality in cities, at airports and train stations, and in business parks, Bosch offers innovative solutions that precisely record and simulate emissions. Bosch air-quality monitors provide precise readings for nitrogen oxides, particulates, humidity, and temperature – in other words, important information for gauging local air quality. The data is then uploaded to the cloud and evaluated. Knowing precisely what pollutants are in the air, where they are, and where they are spreading to allows countermeasures to be taken quickly, for better air at all times. Smart solutions that improve convenience and security in the home Bosch heating and cooling solutions for a perfect climate in the home: Thanks to state-of-the-art inverter technology, the highly efficient Climate 5000 3.0 ductless mini-split air-source heat-pump system offers ample heating and cooling capacity. This heat pump is suitable for most residential buildings due to its ability to heat efficiently, even in frigid outdoor temperatures. The Climate 5000 3.0 features improved energy efficiency and humidity control, creating a comfortable indoor climate. In addition, its built-in air filtration system purifies the air and reduces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful gases and odors. Bosch is also launching the Inverter Ducted Split (IDS) Premium Connected heat-pump system on the market. This solution offers high efficiency and particularly innovative connected features. Using a wireless internet connection and an IoT platform means that installers and homeowners can register it in the app. It also makes installation and troubleshooting easy. With the EasyAir app, installers and homeowners can access data remotely, allowing them to monitor energy consumption and appliance status. Connected thermostats – smart and simple heating control: With its BCC50 and BCC100 connected thermostats, Bosch offers a simple and smart all-in-one control for heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation systems. Users can program their own heating and cooling schedules, for example. The controls are set directly on the thermostat, by using the Bosch Connected Control app, or by voice command. Intelligent oven – cooking with a voice assistant: What temperature? Direct heat or steam? Finding the right setting can be tricky. But whether it’s a quick supper or fine dining, an intelligent Bosch oven will do the trick. The voice assistant Alexa is standing by with advice, and will not only recommend the best oven setting, but also switch the oven on if required – all you have to do is ask. Recipes inspired by a digital look inside the fridge: No idea what to eat? Fridge always full of leftovers? That’s now a thing of the past. Now food can be entered into a digital fridge inventory – manually, by synchronizing with the Home Connect shopping list, or via a camera in the fridge. The Home Connect app will then know exactly what’s in the fridge and provide recipe ideas based on the provisions available. A surefire recipe for new ways to treat your taste buds, as well as for less food waste. Bosch Cookit – all-around culinary talent: Cookit offers a whole new dimension of flexibility in the kitchen. Whether guided cooking, automatic programs, or manual cooking, the multifunctional food processor with cooking function has the right level of support for everyone. And now it has become even more flexible: the new “My Recipe” function allows Cookit to save personal recipes. The recipe, with all ingredients, quantities, temperatures, and special tips, is entered in the Home Connect app, which then relays it to the Cookit. The food processor with cooking function will then guide the user through the preparation steps as often as required. Spexor – protecting what you love: This mobile security assistant is an intelligent all-in-one appliance that provides constant, ubiquitous protection. It detects break-ins and hazardous gases, measures room-air quality, and sounds the alarm if it gets too hot or too cold. If spexor’s integrated sensors detect anomalies in the monitored environment, it sends a notification straight to the user’s smartphone. The multisensor appliance is wireless and can be used wherever there is at least a cellular connection. Bosch sensors – unshakeable, untiring, and incredibly flexible BME688 – monitors air quality and protects forests: Whether at home, in the office, or outdoors – to satisfy the need for clean air, Bosch Sensortec has developed the BME688. This innovative MEMS sensor is the world’s most compact four-in-one air-quality sensor featuring artificial intelligence, and is capable of measuring gas, humidity, temperature, and atmospheric pressure simultaneously. It is suitable for a range of applications, such as sending a warning when foodstuffs expire or the early detection of forest fires. In collaboration with Dryad Networks, BME688 sensors have been combined with an IoT network to detect forest fires early. Fewer forest fires mean significantly lower CO2 emissions. In this way, Bosch is helping to mitigate global warming. BHI260AP – revolutionizing fitness tracking : Squats, sit-ups, kettlebell training: the list of fitness exercises is nearly endless. However, many fitness trackers and smart watches can track only a limited number of activities, and the variety of apparatus types as well as users’ different movement styles, physiques, and fitness levels mean that they cannot always reliably recognize the exercises being done. To solve this problem, Bosch Sensortec has developed the BHI260AP – a novel, self-learning motion sensor that gives wearables and hearables artificial intelligence. The sensor recognizes and responds automatically to many different movements and can learn any new fitness activity based on regularly repeated routines. BMP384 – resistant to water, chemicals, and dust: Wearables, home appliances, and industrial applications often have to cope with tough conditions. Up to now, however, many barometric pressure sensors have not been very robust or resistant to fluids, and therefore could not always be installed in watertight products. With Bosch Sensortec’s BMP384, it’s a different story. This barometric pressure sensor is as compact as it is robust. At CES, Bosch Sensortec is also debuting a new ultra-precise pressure sensor that can also be used for indoor navigation and location. Bosch IoT solutions for the connected city and for more data security From a single source – application store for video analytic apps: The world’s first open application store for video analytics apps allows surveillance cameras to be flexibly equipped with new AI-assisted functions. In just a few minutes, applications for detecting things such as face masks, smoke, fire, and flooding or for evaluating flows of traffic and visitors can be installed on compatible cameras. Developed by the Bosch subsidiary Azena, more than 100 apps are already available for more than 40 use cases – with new ones joining them every month. Smart video cameras for greater road safety: Thanks to a new deep-learning video analytic software, the new Inteox cameras with object classification can be used in areas such as traffic monitoring. Even in heavy traffic, they can recognize precise details of vehicles faster. AI helps to detect unforeseen, undesired, or future situations more quickly, more intuitively, and more reliably. Using artificial intelligence to ward off hackers: The Bosch AI shield is a security product featuring artificial intelligence. It protects against external attacks by AI-assisted systems. One way it provides this protection is through a vulnerability analysis. The solution comprises an SaaS (software as a service) tool and user interface, and has been designed so that developers can use and scale it for a variety of applications. The AI model in the appliances or the cloud protects IP, brands, and investments, and in this way creates trust in digitalization. Bosch at CES 2022: • PRESS CONFERENCE: Tuesday, January 4, 2022 , from 8:00 to 8:45 a.m. local time (17:00–17:45 CET) with Dr. Tanja Rückert, Bosch CDO, and Mike Mansuetti, president of Bosch in North America, in Ballroom H, Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas South Convention Center, Level 2 , as well as livestreamed on the Bosch Media Service . • BOOTH: January 5–8, 2022 , in the Central Hall, booth #16103 • ELECTRIC BIKE TEST TRACK: January 5–8, 2022 , at the eMobility Experience, LVCC, West Hall, West Plaza • FOLLOW the Bosch CES 2022 highlights on Twitter: #BoschCES • PANELS WITH BOSCH EXPERTS: Friday, January 7, 2022, 10:00 a.m. , Venetian Hotel (local time) Building a Resilient Smart Home session with Dr. Carla Kriwet, CEO at BSH Hausgeräte GmbH

07.06.2021

Press release

Industry 4.0

Bosch opens wafer fab of the future in Dresden

Dresden, Germany – Fully connected, data-driven, self-optimizing: in Dresden, Bosch is opening one of the world’s most modern wafer fabs. Highly automated, fully connected machines and integrated processes, combined with methods of artificial intelligence (AI) will make the Dresden plant a smart factory and a trailblazer in Industry 4.0. In the virtual presence of Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel, EU Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, and Saxony’s Minister-President Michael Kretschmer, the high-tech facility was officially inaugurated on June 7, 2021.“The state-of-the-art technology showcased at the new Dresden wafer fab is a great example of what public and private European actors can achieve when they join their efforts. Semiconductors will contribute to the development of industries like transportation, manufacturing, clean energy, and healthcare – where Europe excels. It will help strengthen Europe’s competitiveness as a cradle for cutting-edge innovations,” said Margrethe Vestager, EU Commission Vice-President. “For Bosch, semiconductors are a core technology, and it is strategically important to develop and manufacture them ourselves. In Dresden, with the help of artificial intelligence, we will take semiconductor manufacturing to the next level,” said Dr. Volkmar Denner, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH. “This is our first AIoT factory: fully connected, data-driven, and self-optimizing right from the start.” Bosch is investing roughly one billion euros in this high-tech location. This is the biggest single investment in the company’s more than 130-year history. Production in Dresden will start as early as July – six months earlier than planned. From that time on, semiconductors made in the new plant will be installed in Bosch power tools. For automotive customers, chip production will start in September, and thus three months earlier than planned. The new factory will be an important part of the semiconductor manufacturing network. With it, Bosch is strengthening Germany’s position as a technology and business location. “The new wafer fab is good for Europe, for Germany, and for Saxony. Directly and indirectly, it means many new jobs in a huge growth industry. This billion-euro investment strengthens Silicon Saxony and the entire European semiconductor industry,” said Michael Kretschmer, the minister-president of Saxony. On 72,000 square meters of floor space, 250 people are already working in the wafer fab in Saxony’s state capital. The workforce is set to grow to roughly 700 once construction work has been completed. No other automotive supplier has been working intensively on microelectronics since the 1950s. Since 1958, Bosch has been making semiconductor components itself. And since 1970, the company’s Reutlingen plant has been making special components that are not commercially available. In its wafer fabs in Reutlingen and Dresden alone, Bosch has invested more than 2.5 billion euros since 200-millimeter technology was introduced in 2010. On top of this, billions of euros have been invested in developing microelectronics. In this way, the company is continuing to pursue its growth strategy in semiconductor development and manufacturing. “This expertise is the key to many high-caliber systems solutions made by Bosch,” Denner said. Pioneer in Industry 4.0 Machines that think for themselves, maintenance work from 9,000 kilometers away, glasses with built-in cameras: the wafer fab that has now been built in Dresden is one of the world’s most advanced. “Thanks to the combination of artificial intelligence and the internet of things, we are creating the basis for data-driven, continuous improvement in manufacturing,” Denner said. In concrete terms, this means that all the data in the wafer fab – from machinery, sensors, and products – is collected in a central database. The result: every second, production data equivalent to 500 pages of text is generated. In just one day, this would be equivalent to more than 42 million pages. This data is then evaluated using methods of artificial intelligence. In this process, self-optimizing algorithms learn how to make predictions on the basis of the data. In this way, manufacturing and maintenance processes can be analyzed in real time. For example, an AI algorithm can detect even the tiniest anomalies in products. These anomalies are visible on the wafer surface in the form of specific error patterns known as signatures. Their causes are immediately analyzed and deviations from the process corrected without delay, even before they can affect the reliability of the product. “Artificial intelligence is the key to further improving the manufacturing processes and semiconductor quality, as well as to achieving a high level of process stability.” Denner said. In turn, it means that semiconductor products can go into full-scale production quickly, saving automotive customers the need for the time-consuming trials that would otherwise be necessary before production release. Maintenance work can also be optimized thanks to artificial intelligence. Algorithms can precisely predict whether and when a piece of manufacturing machinery or a robot needs maintenance or adjustment. In other words, such work is not done according to a rigid schedule, but precisely when it is needed – and well in advance of any problems cropping up. “Digital twin”: the plant and its double One other outstanding feature of the wafer fab is that it exists twice – once in the real world, and once in the digital world. The specialist term for this is “digital twin.” During construction, all parts of the factory and all relevant construction data relating to the plant as a whole were recorded digitally and visualized in a three-dimensional model. The twin comprises roughly half a million 3D objects, including buildings and infrastructure, supply and disposal systems, cable ducts and ventilation systems, and machinery and manufacturing lines. This allows Bosch to simulate both process optimization plans and renovation work without intervening in ongoing operations. Maintenance work in the Dresden factory also makes use of high-tech: data glasses and augmented reality mean that maintenance work on machinery can even be done remotely. In other words, maintenance work in Dresden can be done by an expert from a mechanical engineering company in Asia without any need for that expert to come to Dresden. Thanks to a camera built into data glasses, images are transmitted half way around the world, and the expert there then talks the associate through the maintenance process in real time. This technology also played a crucial role in ensuring that the machinery could be commissioned despite coronavirus-related travel restrictions. Semiconductors for better quality of life and road safety In the shape of microchips, semiconductors are to be found in nearly every technical device – in smartphone, televisions, and fitness bracelets. And without semiconductors, cars would not work, either today or in the future. In 2016, every new vehicle worldwide had an average of more than nine Bosch chips on board, in devices such as the airbag control unit, the braking system, and the park assist system. In 2019, this figure was already more than 17. In other words, their number had nearly doubled in just a few years. In the years to come, experts expect to see the strongest growth in driver assistance systems, infotainment, and the electrification of the powertrain. With its wafer fab in Dresden, Bosch is responding to the increased demand for semiconductors. “Semiconductors are the building blocks of progress. Electronic components equipped with chips from Dresden will make applications such as automated and resource- conserving driving possible, as well as the best possible occupant protection,” said Harald Kroeger, member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH. Surveys confirm this growth in demand: as recently as 1998, according to the ZVEI, the value of the microelectronics in a new car was 120 euros. By 2018, this value had risen to 500 euros, and in 2023 it is expected to exceed 600 euros. This means that semiconductors are a growth area for Bosch as well. Semiconductor expertise as a competitive advantage “Chips for vehicles are the ultimate discipline in semiconductor technology. This is because in cars, these small building blocks have to be especially robust,” Kroeger said. Over a vehicle’s service life, chips are exposed to strong vibrations and extreme temperatures that range from far below freezing to far above the boiling point of water. In other words, chips have to meet higher standards of reliability. This means that the development of automotive semiconductors is more complicated than in other applications. This requires specialist expertise, and Bosch has amassed such expertise over the course of decades. Its developers and engineers understand the physical principles behind microelectronic automotive components. This opens up the possibility of complete systems that prevent accidents and protect the environment – again, the company is a one-stop shop for the development and manufacture of such systems. “This dual strength – the combination of chip and systems expertise – is strategically important for Bosch,” Kroeger said. In addition, Bosch can complement its strength in the development and manufacture of semiconductors with its systems expertise in electronics and software. This allows the company to ensure the quality of its products, to continuously refine them, and to reduce costs. “Silicon Saxony”: Europe’s biggest microelectronics location After comparing sites around the world, Bosch settled on Dresden, in the state of Saxony, as the location for its wafer fab. “Silicon Saxony” is Europe’s biggest microelectronics location, and the fifth biggest worldwide. One in three of all chips made in Europe is produced here. The region offers perfect conditions for this. “The location and construction of the factory demonstrate how much faith people have in Saxony as a high-tech location, with its experienced and qualified specialists and an unrivalled network that has come into being here over the course of the decades,” said Michael Kretschmer, Saxony’s minister-president. He added that Dresden’s infrastructure is excellent: everything is easily accessible, and the transportation connections are good. This includes companies from the automotive supply, services, and other industries, as well as universities and research institutes offering technological expertise. “In Dresden, modern entrepreneurship rubs shoulders with academic excellence and far-sighted industrial policy,” Kroeger said. “For Bosch therefore, the decision to make the single biggest investment in the company’s more than 130-year history here in this region was a deliberate one.”

22.04.2021

Press release

Bosch Group

Bosch believes AIoT, electrification, and green hydrogen are the way forward

Renningen and Stuttgart, Germany – Bosch, the supplier of technology and services, is combining the internet of things (IoT) with artificial intelligence (AI) and believes electromobility will allow it to develop new business opportunities on the back of the profound technological and ecological changes currently occurring. “Bosch came through the first year of the coronavirus pandemic well,” said Dr. Volkmar Denner, the chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, at the press conference to present the company’s 2020 annual report. “We are one of the winners in the transition to electromobility, and we are significantly expanding our software business by tying in artificial intelligence.”In powertrain technology, electromobility is establishing itself as Bosch’s core business. Denner reported that the company is making heavy upfront investments in this area – a further 700 million euros this year alone. Up to now, its upfront investments in electromobility total five billion euros. Currently, Bosch sales revenue from electrical powertrain components is growing twice as fast as the market, at almost 40 percent. The aim is to increase annual sales fivefold to a total of some five billion euros by 2025 and to break even one year earlier. “Electromobility has long since ceased to be a bet on the future. Our upfront investments are now beginning to pay off,” the Bosch CEO said at an online press conference. Overall, Bosch had acquired orders worth over 20 billion euros by the end of 2020. In the first three months of this year, Bosch Group sales climbed 17.0 percent year on year. “With a good first quarter, Bosch has made a successful start to 2021,” said Prof. Stefan Asenkerschbaumer, the CFO and deputy chairman of the Bosch board of management. He expressed confidence for 2021, but expects it to be another challenging year. For the current reporting period, sales are expected to increase roughly 6 percent year on year, while the margin from operations is set to improve slightly to around 3 percent – or around 4 percent without restructuring costs. However, this depends on the effects of the semiconductor bottlenecks, which are difficult to assess. “The year 2021 will be an important milestone on our path to regaining our target margin of around 7 percent in the next two to three years,” Asenkerschbaumer said. The encouraging 2020 business year – despite the pandemic – with an operating result (EBIT from operations, adjusted for the effects of purchase-price allocations for Automotive Steering and BSH Hausgeräte) of 2.0 billion euros provides Bosch with a sound footing on which to continue to invest in areas of future importance. With sales amounting to 71.5 billion euros, research and development spending remained essentially unchanged at 5.9 billion euros, and EBIT margin from operations reached 2.8 percent. Adjusted for restructuring expenses, which additionally burdened result in 2020, the figure was 4.7 percent. Connectivity megatrend: customers becoming integral to development Bosch aims to leverage the competitive advantage it derives from its wealth of experience in combining connectivity (the internet of things, IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) to generate future business and become a leading AIoT company. Bosch foresees that AI-enabled products will generate sales worth billions of euros over the next few years. Sales of connectivity-enabled devices for the home are expected to double: from four million last year to around eight million units in 2021. In addition, Bosch wants to use AI to evaluate data relating to how its customers use its products, and in this way to provide software updates that create new functions and services for those customers. “Connecting things leads to knowledge about how things are used,” Denner said. “This lets us continuously improve our products, keep them up to date, and provide our customers with more benefits.” In the field of video security, for example, video analysis based on neural networks opens up new possibilities. To this end, Bosch is integrating detectors both into new cameras and into an AI box that can be connected to installed devices. The first application is a traffic detector that will initially be able to detect and locate vehicles precisely in busy traffic situations, even under difficult lighting conditions. The more data that flows into the customer application, the more AI will be able to do, including accurate accident detection, the company says. Electrification megatrend: new opportunities in several business areas Global efforts to combat climate change are boosting electrification and green hydrogen. Denner believes electrification opens up new opportunities in several business areas: “Electrification requires solutions not only for electric driving in cars, but also for electric heating in buildings.” In electromobility, the key drivers of change are falling battery costs and emissions standards designed to meet climate action targets. In building technology, especially in heating and air-conditioning, the use of heat pumps and renewables is playing a growing role. In heating systems, for instance, Bosch is growing much faster than the market with solutions based on electricity. Sales of heat pumps grew by more than 20 percent in 2020; Denner expects them to triple by 2025. The company also anticipates that the refurbishment of residential buildings called for under the European Green Deal will provide a strong stimulus to growth. With this in mind, Bosch wants to leverage its “investment clout, large-scale production capability, and commercialization expertise.” In the case of the company’s particularly efficient and quiet air-to-water heat pumps alone, unit sales almost doubled in Germany in 2020. Hydrogen megatrend: fuel-cell market worth billions Bosch is also focusing on a growth market for the hydrogen megatrend: the company believes the market for green hydrogen in the EU will be worth almost 40 billion euros by 2030 – with annual growth rates of 65 percent. Fuel cells convert hydrogen into electricity, and Bosch is developing both stationary and mobile fuel-cell solutions. From 2021 to 2024, Bosch plans to invest one billion euros in fuel-cell technology. “Bosch is already H2-ready,” Denner said. The plan is to put 100 stationary fuel-cell plants into operation this year. They will supply electricity to users such as data centers, industrial manufacturers, and residential areas. One stationary solid-oxide fuel cell, located in the center of Bamberg, Germany, was brought into operation at the end of March 2021 together with Stadtwerke Bamberg, the city’s public utilities. Bosch estimates that the market for mobile fuel-cell components will be worth around 18 billion euros by the end of the decade. Denner believes Bosch is in a good position here: “We have what it takes to be a leader in this market as well.” Bosch recently entered into a joint venture with China’s Qingling Motor Group to produce fuel-cell powertrains. A test fleet of 70 trucks is set to be on the roads before the end of this year. Denner: EU plans may threaten carbon neutrality Denner does not believe that the EU’s initial plans for the Euro 7 emissions standard make sense; however, he expressed his satisfaction that the debate was now showing signs of movement and becoming more objective. He explained why: “Climate action is not about the end of the internal-combustion engine. It’s about the end of fossil fuels. And while electromobility and green charging power make road transport carbonneutral, so do renewable fuels.” The Bosch CEO reminded his audience that climate?neutral mobility is almost as ambitious a goal as flying to the moon was in the 1960s. But instead of just setting the big goal of “first man on the moon” and leaving it up to engineers to decide how to achieve it, as U.S. President Kennedy did at the time, the European Commission is doing things the other way around. “This is a surefire way to cut off alternative paths to climate action,” Denner said. “If society truly wants climate action, it is essential that we do not play technological approaches off against each other. Instead, we must combine them.” CO2 reduction at Bosch: along the entire value chain Bosch is pressing ahead with its own climate action targets as planned: Now that the climate-neutral status of the Bosch Group, with its more than 400 locations worldwide, has been certified, Bosch is giving concrete shape to its plans for what is known as Scope 3. By 2030, it aims to reduce carbon emissions by 15 percent from their 2018 level along its entire value chain, from suppliers to customers – a reduction of 67 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. “Our efforts are sure to drive our product portfolio in the direction of energy efficiency or even technology change. In the future, a supplier’s or logistics provider’s carbon footprint will be one of the criteria for awarding new procurement contracts,” Denner said. “In terms of mitigating global warming, this will pay off.” Outlook for 2021: despite confidence, the year remains challenging Bosch expects the global economy to grow by just under 4 percent this year, after a contraction of around 3.8 percent last year. “Even though we’ve made a confident start to 2021, the pandemic continues to pose significant risks,” Asenkerschbaumer said. The CFO added that Bosch is particularly aware of market bottlenecks in the automotive sector, especially for semiconductors, which are in great demand. The company is doing everything in its power to support its customers in this tense situation. However, an improvement in the short term is not to be expected, and the situation may also impact business developments in the current year. In the long run, Asenkerschbaumer believes it is necessary to make all supply chains in the automotive industry less prone to disruption. Moreover, aligning its mobility business with areas of future importance such as electromobility, automated driving, and future electronics architectures calls for enormous upfront investments. “In this profound transformation, 2021 will be both a very important and a challenging year for us.” Business year 2020: coronavirus pandemic overcome In 2020, Bosch Group sales amounted to 71.5 billion euros. As a result of the pandemic, sales were 6.4 percent below their previous-year level (4.3 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects). The company generated earnings from operations before interest and taxes (EBIT from operations, adjusted for the effects of purchase-price allocations for Automotive Steering and BSH Hausgeräte) of 2.0 billion euros. The EBIT margin from operations came to 2.8 percent. “Improved sales in the second half of the year, as well as significant cost savings, helped cushion the impact of the pandemic,” Asenkerschbaumer said. The equity ratio remained at a high level of 44 percent, while free cash flow reached a record level of 5.1 billion euros. The CFO sees the company in a satisfactory liquidity situation: “Bosch continues to enjoy a healthy financial structure, and this will allow it to focus on areas of future importance.” Business year 2020: development by business sector The Bosch Group’s broad diversification was vindicated once again in 2020, balancing out different business developments. In the Mobility Solutions business sector, sales developed better than the market. At 42.1 billion euros, sales were down 10 percent year on year. However, worldwide automotive production fell 16 percent over the same period. After adjusting for exchange-rate effects, sales fell 8.2 percent. The EBIT margin from operations was minus 1.3 percent, with the refocusing of the business also having an impact. In the Industrial Technology business sector, sales reached 5.1 billion euros. With the market already in decline before the coronavirus pandemic, sales tumbled by 17 percent, or by 15 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects. At 4.7 percent, the EBIT margin was lower than in the previous year. In the Consumer Goods business sector, demand for household appliances and power tools increased significantly during the pandemic. Sales grew by 5.1 percent to 18.7 billion euros. After adjusting for exchange-rate effects, sales growth was 8.4 percent. The margin from operations was an outstanding 11.5 percent. Sales in the Energy and Building Technology business sector fell by 2.7 percent, or by 0.8 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects. The EBIT margin was 4.6 percent, from sales of 5.5 billion euros. Business year 2020: development by region In Europe, sales for the year were 38.0 billion euros. This was 5.1 percent down on the previous year, or an exchange-rate adjusted 3.7 percent. In North America, sales totaled 10.7 billion euros, representing a 15.5 percent fall. After adjusting for exchange-rate effects, the fall was 12.8 percent. In South America, exchange-rate effects had a particularly pronounced impact on sales. At 1.1 billion euros, overall sales were 22.3 percent down on the previous year; however, the fall was just 0.2 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects. In Asia Pacific including other regions, the early and strong market recovery in China cushioned the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. At 21.7 billion euros, overall sales fell by just a slight 2.6 percent year on year, or by just 0.7 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects. Associates: change also offers opportunities Denner admitted that Bosch’s transformation will cost jobs on the one hand, but added that it will also open up new prospects for associates on the other. At its core plants, Bosch is taking skills from the development and production of gasoline and diesel systems and applying them to new technologies such as fuel cells. “We have already filled more than half our electromobility-related jobs with associates from the combustion-engine business,” the Bosch CEO said. In addition, a company-wide placement platform has been created in order to quickly get specialists into positions in areas of future importance. In its digital qualification programs as well, Bosch is making progress: since the beginning of 2020, the company’s in-house learning portal has been accessed more than 400,000 times. In 2020, more than one in three training sessions was held online; by 2023, this figure is expected to rise to one in two. As of December 31, 2020, the Bosch Group employed some 395,000 associates worldwide. That is around 3,100 fewer people than in the previous year – a drop of around 1 percent. Headcount decreased primarily in Asia Pacific. In Germany, the number of associates remained largely constant at 131,800. Worldwide, the number of researchers and engineers increased by around 600 to around 73,200. The number of software developers also grew by more than 10 percent to around 34,000.

11.03.2021

Press release

Bosch Group

Bosch reaches milestone on the way to opening new wafer fab in Dresden

Dresden, Germany – It is a milestone on the path to the chip factory of the future: at the new Bosch semiconductor fab in Dresden, silicon wafers are passing through the fully automated fabrication process for the first time. This is a key step toward the start of production operations, which is scheduled for late 2021. Manufacturing of automotive microchips will be a primary focus when the fully digital and highly connected semiconductor plant is up and running. “Chips for tomorrow’s mobility solutions and greater safety on our roads will soon be produced in Dresden. We plan to open our chip factory of the future before the year is out,” says Harald Kroeger, member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH. The company already operates a semiconductor fab in Reutlingen near Stuttgart. The new wafer fab in Dresden is Bosch’s response to the surging number of areas of application for semiconductors, as well as a renewed demonstration of its commitment to Germany as a high-tech location. Bosch is investing around one billion euros in the high-tech manufacturing facility, which will be one of the most advanced wafer fabs in the world. Funding for the new building is being provided by the federal German government, and more specifically the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Bosch plans to officially open its wafer fab in June 2021.Prototype manufacturing already underway In January 2021, Bosch began putting its first wafers through the fabrication process in Dresden. From these, the company will make power semiconductors for use in applications such as DC-DC converters in electric and hybrid vehicles. In the six weeks it takes to produce the wafers, they undergo some 250 individual fabrication steps – all of which are fully automated. In the process, minute structures with dimensions measuring fractions of a micrometer are deposited on the wafers. These microchip prototypes can now be installed and tested in electronic components for the first time. In March, Bosch will start the first production runs of highly complex integrated circuits. To make the wafers into the finished semiconductor chips, they undergo some 700 processing steps, which take more than ten weeks to complete. 300-millimeter fab The technology in focus at Bosch’s new Dresden facility is 300-millimeter fabrication, in which a single wafer can accommodate 31,000 individual chips. Compared with conventional 150- and 200-millimeter wafers, this technology offers the company greater economies of scale and boosts its competitiveness in semiconductor production. Moreover, fully automated production and real-time data exchange between the machines will make chip manufacturing in Dresden exceptionally efficient. “Our new wafer fab sets standards in automation, digitalization, and connectivity,” Kroeger says. Construction of the facility began in June 2018 on a plot of land measuring some 100,000 square meters, or roughly 14 soccer fields. It is located in Silicon Saxony, Dresden’s answer to Silicon Valley. In late 2019, the outer shell of the high-tech factory was completed, providing 72,000 square meters of floor space. Work then began on the interior and the first production machinery was installed in the clean room. In November 2020, initial parts of this highly sophisticated fabrication technology completed a brief automated manufacturing cycle for the first time. The final construction phase will see up to 700 people working in the Dresden fab to control and monitor production and maintain the machinery. From wafer to chip Semiconductors are finding their way into more and more applications, including in the internet of things and for mobility of the future. The semiconductor fabrication process begins with round discs of silicon known as wafers. At the Bosch fab in Dresden, these wafers have a diameter of 300 millimeters and, at just 60 micrometers thick, will be thinner than a human hair. To produce the coveted semiconductor chips, the untreated – or “bare” – wafers are then processed for several weeks. As the application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) in vehicles, for instance, these semiconductors act as the vehicle’s brains. They process the information from sensors and trigger further actions, such as sending a lightning-fast message to the airbag to tell it to deploy. Although the silicon chips measure just a few square millimeters, they contain complex circuits, sometimes featuring several millions of individual electronic functions.

29.01.2021

Press release

Commercial vehicles

22.10.2020

Press release

Business/economy

City, country, freeway: Bosch paves the way for climate-neutral transportation

12.10.2020

Press release

Business/economy

Stuttgart airport set to welcome fully automated and driverless parking

Stuttgart, Germany – Automated parking to drive down the airport stress: Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, and the parking garage operator Apcoa want to introduce driverless and fully automated parking at Stuttgart airport in the future. To this end, the automated valet parking (AVP) system co-developed by Bosch and Mercedes-Benz is to be made ready for commercial operation. The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is already geared up to accommodate it as the world’s first production vehicle to feature the technology required for future infrastructure-based AVP. As an option, customers can buy the appropriate pre-installation for what the company calls the INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT, which makes the S-Class capable of receiving a smartphone command to drive itself to a reserved parking space. “With the new S-Class, it’s not just driving that’s a luxury, but parking as well,” says Dr. Michael Hafner, head of automated driving at Mercedes-Benz AG. The P6 parking garage at Stuttgart airport will serve as the pilot for the planned commercial automated parking service. Here, the companies will test how the vehicle technology onboard the S-Class interacts with the intelligent Bosch infrastructure and APCOA FLOW, the digital platform provided by the parking garage operator Apcoa. This platform makes the whole parking process ticketless and cashless. “Apcoa, Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, and Stuttgart airport want to work together to make parking fully automatic,” says Christoph Hartung, member of the executive management of Connected Mobility Solutions at Bosch. In the airport parking garage, preparations are currently underway to begin piloting the planned automated valet parking service. The aim of this trial with new S-Class vehicles at Stuttgart airport is to ensure that interactions between the vehicle, infrastructure technology, and parking garage operator run smoothly and are optimized for the customer.World’s first Level 4 park function in a production vehicle In July 2019, Bosch and Mercedes-Benz received the world’s first special permit to operate AVP for selected E-Class vehicles without a safety driver in real-life, mixed parking garage traffic at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. Equipped with the appropriate pre-installation for the INTELLIGENT PARK PILOT, the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is now the first production vehicle to feature AVP technology, which enables it to park without a driver. However, this is conditional on the future availability of parking garages with the appropriate infrastructure, as well as on national legislators giving AVP the green light. This makes the Mercedes-Benz S-Class the world’s first vehicle to feature a pre-installation for an SAE Level 4 automated driving function, the second-highest level of automation. “With automated valet parking, Mercedes-Benz is demonstrating that driverless parking will soon be possible,” Hafner says. To facilitate this new one-touch parking function, a spacious drop-off and pick-up area will be set up directly behind the entrance to the P6 parking garage, giving AVP users a convenient place to leave their vehicles. As they comfortably make their way to the terminal and check in, their S-Class will park itself in the basement, guided by information from the infrastructure technology. In other words, users no longer need to worry about maneuvering or having to squeeze out of their cars when the space they have finally found proves to be too narrow. “Automated valet parking really enhances our passengers’ comfort and convenience and saves them time, especially when they’re in a hurry and just want to drop their car off quickly at the airport”, says Walter Schoefer, management spokesman for Flughafen Stuttgart GmbH. For the test phase that is about to start, P6 will initially have two spaces available for self-parking vehicles. More spaces will be added when driverless parking becomes standard as planned in the future and as demand increases. Intelligent infrastructure and digital platforms The pilot parking garage at Stuttgart airport will be a premiere for new Bosch video cameras that can identify vacant parking spaces, monitor the driving aisle and its surroundings, and detect obstacles or people in the aisle. Until now, lidar sensors have been used for this purpose. A dedicated control center in the parking garage then calculates the route the vehicles need to take to reach an available space. “Our intelligent parking garage infrastructure forms the basis for the future of driverless parking,” Hartung says. Thanks to the information that the cameras provide, it is also possible for cars to drive themselves around the parking garage – even on narrow ramps, enabling them to move between different stories. The in-vehicle technology autonomously converts the information from the infrastructure into driving maneuvers. If the cameras detect an unexpected obstacle, for example, the vehicle safely performs an emergency stop. APCOA FLOW, the parking garage operator Apcoa’s digital platform, will also play a key role in driverless parking at Stuttgart airport. Drivers are already using the platform to help lighten the burden of parking. This ranges from making firm reservations for a parking space, to contactless entry into the parking garage, and to fully automated payment, invoicing, and contactless exit. The system recognizes the customer’s vehicle and the barriers open automatically, making a ticket and trip to the ticket machine redundant. “We want to be the first parking garage operator to fully support and enable automated parking services based on AVP technology in one of our parking garages,” says Frank van der Sant, chief commercial officer at Apcoa Parking Holdings GmbH. More vehicles, more parking garages A vehicle drop-off and collection service saves time and avoids long walks to the car: once parking garages are equipped with the appropriate infrastructure and national laws permit AVP, customers will be able to enjoy driverless parking services. Bosch and Mercedes-Benz are paving the way for this with the world’s first infrastructure-based solution for SAE Level 4 automated valet parking in real-life, mixed parking garage traffic. Uniform standards and interfaces ensure smooth communication between the vehicles and infrastructure technology. In the future, Bosch’s aim is to equip more and more parking garages with AVP infrastructure technology. As Europe’s largest parking garage operator, Apcoa also has a strategic interest in offering innovative premium services like AVP in more of its parking garages. “Looking ahead, we want to open up AVP to more customers at selected Apcoa locations,” van der Sant says. The company manages approximately 1.5 million individual parking spaces at over 9,500 locations in 13 European countries. By increasing the availability of driverless and fully automated parking services, the same amount of space could accommodate up to 20 percent more vehicles. In addition, driverless parking is especially suitable for narrow, remote, and therefore unattractive parking areas that people would otherwise avoid.

28.01.2020

Press release

Business/economy

Bosch: broad portfolio ensures sales remain high – adverse environment impacts e ...

Stuttgart, Germany – In spite of the economic weakness in the automotive industry, the Bosch Group was able to maintain the previous year’s high level of sales in 2019. According to preliminary figures1, the supplier of technology and services generated sales of 77.9 billion euros last year. This puts revenue on a par with the previous year’s figure. After adjusting for exchange-rate effects, however, revenue is down 1.1 percent. Presenting the preliminary figures, Dr. Volkmar Denner, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, said: “A weak economy and the steep decline in automotive production left their mark on Bosch as well. In view of the current challenges, the company’s broad diversification is having a stabilizing effect, which helps both to expand existing business and to develop new business. Despite the challenging economic situation, we continue to invest in important growth areas.” This year alone, Bosch plans to spend more than one billion euros on the electrified, automated, and connected mobility of the future. “As an innovation leader, we are helping to shape the move to alternative mobility and seizing the opportunities this presents,” Denner said.In the 2019 business year, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) came to some 3 billion euros. This puts the estimated EBIT margin at just under 4 percent. Result was affected by the downturn in automotive production, particularly in the key Chinese and Indian markets, the further reduction in the share of diesel engines in cars, high restructuring costs (particularly in the mobility segment), and increasing upfront investments in projects of future importance. “The current year remains challenging for many companies, especially in the automotive industry – and hence also for Bosch,” said Prof. Stefan Asenkerschbaumer, CFO and deputy chairman of the Bosch board of management. “Nonetheless, in the sectors and regions that are important for us, we want to grow more strongly than the markets once again in 2020,” he added, cautioning that Bosch will have to continue to work rigorously on its profitability and adjust its manufacturing capacity. Mobility of the future: the challenges of change Bosch has a clear picture of the future of mobility and of how to make a success of the move to alternatives. “Tomorrow’s mobility will be not only electrified and automated, but also connected and personalized,” Denner said, adding that because of its diverse portfolio, Bosch is better prepared for the various scenarios and developments than almost any other company. However, he warned that the road to the mobility of the future presents the automotive industry with some major challenges. First, irrational arguments about the car have stifled any level-headed, nuanced debate about road traffic. Second, the industry needs more time to manage the transition. As Denner emphasized: “Particularly when it comes to jobs, a process as fundamental as the transition to electromobility can’t be achieved overnight.” Third, the economic situation is exacerbating the need for structural change in the industry. Bosch expects global automotive production to shrink in 2020 for the third year in a row. This year, the company is forecasting a further decline of 2.6 percent to some 89 million vehicles worldwide – almost 10 million units less than in 2017. Bosch is expecting this level to remain constant over the next few years, and does not anticipate any increase in global automotive production before 2025. The company intends to adapt its cost structures and workforce to the dramatic changes and overcapacity in the industry in the most socially acceptable way possible. Denner: “We have already reached agreements on this subject with our social partners at major locations such as Bamberg, Schwieberdingen, and Stuttgart-Feuerbach.” The goal is to adopt an approach that preserves individual growth opportunities at the locations and retains as many associates, and their skills, as possible. Mobility of the future: business opportunities for Bosch “The move to alternative mobility will not be the end of mobility – and certainly not the end of the car,” Denner said, adding that Bosch is still well-positioned in its quest to be a leading provider of mobility solutions. He went on: “The fundamental upheaval in the automotive industry holds great opportunities for Bosch.” This includes growing demand for mobility in the future. According to the International Transport Forum (ITF),personal mobility will increase by almost 50 percent worldwide between 2015 and 2030. “For the foreseeable future, the car will remain the number one means of transport – and has excellent prospects of becoming an even safer, more convenient, and more eco-friendly means of transport,” Denner said. New technologies such as the internet of things (IoT) , artificial intelligence (AI) , and the fuel cell will also further advance the move to alternative mobility. As an innovation leader, Bosch will benefit from its early entry into these areas of development. Furthermore, new automakers in the electromobility market increasingly require complete solutions rather than components. He continued: “For us as a full-service provider, more systems business means sales potential running into the billions.” In the future, Bosch will also benefit from the trend toward more electronics and software: The company estimates that the market for software-intensive electronics systems will grow by 20 percent annually between now and 2030. Bosch invests some 3.7 billion euros annually in software development and currently employs 30,000 software engineers. Upskilling associates: AI training program for 20,000 associates For Denner, a qualified workforce is a strategic success factor for mastering current and future challenges. “Bosch sees itself as a learning organization in which learning is integrated into day-to-day work,” he said. In addition to its regular investments in upskilling its workforce, Bosch is launching a new AI training program for nearly 20,000 associates. It includes training formats at three different levels for managers, engineers, and AI developers and includes guidelines for using AI responsibly. Developing business: some 3 billion euros for growth areas Bosch intends to expand its existing business and open up new areas of business. “We want to do this by making substantial up-front investments in future technologies,” Denner said. “In the period from 2013 to 2020, Bosch will have invested a total of some 3 billion euros in new growth areas.” This year, Bosch will invest 500 million euros in electromobility alone, including fuel cells. It will spend more than 600 million euros on automated driving and another 100 million euros on connected mobility solutions . Moreover, since 2015 Bosch has invested 600 million euros in expanding its activities relating to the internet of things . These include the new Bosch IoT Campus in Berlin and the expansion of the company’s connected industry business. Exploiting competitive advantages: technology leadership and neutrality By moving into new technologies, Bosch is securing important sales potential in markets worth billions. For instance, before safe automated driving can become a reality, a third sensor principle is needed in addition to camera and radar. This is why Bosch is completing its sensor portfolio and starting production of long-range lidar sensors. As Denner explained, “This bridges the sensor gap and makes automated driving a viable possibility.” The laser-based distance measurement tool can reliably detect even non-metallic objects at a great distance, such as rocks on the road. This means there is plenty of time to initiate driving maneuvers such as braking or swerving. Bosch is also driving forward the commercialization of the fuel-cell powertrain : it is developing the powertrain’s core component, the stack, together with Powercell and plans to launch it in 2022. The company is also continuing to invest in highly efficient combustion engines . According to Bosch market research, two out of every three newly registered vehicles in 2030 will still run on diesel or gasoline, with or without a hybrid option. He continued: “The path to emissions-free mobility must be technology-neutral. This is the only way to make mobility affordable for the general public.” The solution is a powertrain mix of highly efficient combustion engines and state-of-the art electric motors. In addition, Denner is committed to the use of renewable synthetic fuels: “Legacy vehicles already on the road will also have to play their part in cutting CO2 emissions. Renewable synthetic fuels can make the combustion process carbon-neutral.” To this end, Denner calls on policymakers to put the framework in place for a technology-neutral and hence innovation-friendly environment. This is a necessary step if the move to alternative mobility is to be a success, maintaining existing jobs and creating new ones, Denner said. Beyond the mobility of the future: developing new technologies Bosch wants to go beyond the mobility of the future to develop new technologies and promote climate action. In doing so, the company wants to maintain a balance between the economy, the environment, and corporate social responsibility. On its path to becoming a leading IoT company, Bosch is relying on AI. “We want to use industrial AI to make our products function as assistants for our customers – which we hope will make us one of the global leaders in this domain,” Denner said. To this end, Bosch is investing 100 million euros in its AI campus in Tübingen alone. The company is also driving forward its own climate action initiatives: at the end of 2019, Bosch achieved carbon neutrality for all its locations in Germany; by the end of 2020, the same will be true of all Bosch locations worldwide. “Climate action and energy efficiency offer Bosch further business opportunities,” Denner said. In Germany alone, up to 45 percent of electricity will come from renewable sources by 2025 (source: BMWi). “This is why we will be investing 100 million euros in growing our heat pump business over the next few years.” Business developments in 2019 by business sector Business developments in 2019 were similar across Bosch’s various operating units. In Mobility Solutions , which generates the highest share of sales, growth outstripped global automotive production. At 47 billion euros, sales came in at the previous year’s level. In nominal terms, this represents a decrease of 0.1 percent, or 1.5 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects. In the Consumer Goods business sector, sales amounted to 17.8 billion euros. This represents a decrease of 0.2 percent, or 0.6 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects. The BSH Hausgeräte and Bosch Power Toolsdivisions held their own in a strong competitive environment, with Bosch Power Tools performing above average. The Industrial Technology business sector achieved sales of 7.4 billion euros, or 0.1 percent more than in the previous year, despite a marked decline of over 4 percent in orders in the mechanical engineering sector. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, sales fell 1.2 percent. The Energy and Building Technology business sector achieved growth of 1.5 percent, generating sales of 5.6 billion euros. This is an increase of 0.8 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects. Business developments in 2019 by region In Europe, Bosch’s businesses saw stable development. At 41 billion euros, sales were on a par with the previous year. In North America , sales grew by 5.3 percent to 13 billion euros. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, this is a decrease of 0.5 percent. In South America , sales rose to 1.4 billion euros. This equates to growth of 1.1 percent, or 5.3 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects. In Asia Pacific , business development was negative overall. Sales declined by 3.1 percent to 22.5 billion euros, a drop of 4.5 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects. Sales performance was particularly affected by the slump in the automotive markets of China and India. Japan and Southeast Asia, on the other hand, developed positively. A global workforce of some 403,000 associates Worldwide, the Bosch Group employed some 403,000 associates as of December 31, 2019. Headcount fell by 6,800, or 1.7 percent, with the major changes occurring in China and Germany. Outlook for 2020: strengthening profitability despite the weak global economy Bosch expects the global economy to grow just 2.0 percent in 2020. “In the face of continued economic weakness, global growth will slow down further,” Asenkerschbaumer said. In particular, important core industries such as automotive and machinery production are set to decline. Moreover, trade disputes between the United States and China, as well as the impending Brexit, are causing forecasts to cloud over. In view of overcapacity in the automotive industry and changes to the mix of powertrain technologies, Bosch is continuing to review its cost structures. Where necessary, personnel adjustments will be made in a socially acceptable manner. Asenkerschbaumer continued: “We expect a very challenging year for Bosch as well, in which we will work rigorously on our profitability.” A high level of profitability is essential if Bosch is to be able to make significant upfront investments in technologies of future importance and in the transformation of the company.