Sales in automation and connectivity in the billions
- Mobility solutions: growth in weaker market environment
- Groundbreaking development in battery technology for electric vehicles
- Assistance systems: sales expected to reach one billion euros by 2016
- Services: Bosch is connecting cars beyond the hood
The Bosch Group’s mobility business is growing considerably faster than the global automotive market. “Bosch is assuming a leading role in the transformation that is about to sweep through the automotive sector. Automation, electrification, and connectivity – Bosch is already enjoying success in all three areas,” said Dr. Volkmar Denner, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. The Mobility Solutions business sector is expecting sales growth in 2015 of around ten percent, or five percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects1. In the same time period, global vehicle production will only increase marginally. One reason for Bosch’s success is efficient combustion technology. This year, the supplier of technology and services will sell 15 percent more gasoline direct injection systems and ten percent more high-pressure diesel injection systems. Sales of ESP systems will also grow once again by a quarter. “Our innovative strength in all the mobility growth trends is helping us attract new customer groups and tap business opportunities beyond the automotive industry,” Denner said.
Mobility solutions: new customers, new services
Whether for private or commercial vehicles, multimodal transportation offerings, fleet management, or smart transportation infrastructure, Bosch brings together vehicle technology, the data cloud, and services to offer complete mobility solutions. In the future, the customers for these solutions will include new market players such as Tesla, Google, two-wheeler manufacturers, and car-sharing providers. Bosch is also already working on specific projects with insurers, leasing companies, and other fleet operators.
Breakthrough in battery technology: solid-state cells for electric cars
At this year’s IAA, Bosch is presenting solutions and innovations in the growing fields of connectivity, automation, and electrification. Each year, Bosch invests nearly 400 million euros in turning electromobility into a reality. That this is bearing fruit was underscored by Denner, who presented a possible breakthrough innovation in battery technology. Having bought U.S. start-up Seeo Inc. (Hayward, CA), Bosch now possesses essential know-how in the area of innovative solid-state cells. This technology complements the developments the company has already achieved with its Japanese partners GS Yuasa and Mitsubishi Corporation. To date, the aim has been to double energy density and halve its costs by the end of this decade. With the Seeo technology, Bosch sees the potential to increase the energy capacity of lithium-ion cells even further. “Bosch is applying its knowledge and a great deal of financial resources to help electromobility achieve a breakthrough,” Denner said.
Automated driving: sales in the billions on the horizon
In particular, the trend toward self-driving cars is already a major sales driver for Bosch. More and more new vehicles feature assistance systems such as lane-keeping support or emergency brake assist. Sales of radar and video sensors will once again double in 2015 for the second year in a row. This high demand means sales of Bosch driver assistance systems will exceed one billion euros as soon as 2016. As Denner explained, “Automated driving will arrive gradually by a process of developing and refining driver assistance systems.” The company has some 2,000 engineers working on this alone – a good 700 more than two years ago.
The company has also set itself ambitious goals for connectivity. Bosch technology is making vehicles an active part of the internet, but this development will go beyond cars in the future. Bosch already supports providers of car and bike sharing and operators of trains and buses with software solutions. It is in the services business where Bosch’s versatility is particularly advantageous. The supplier of technology and services is in a better position than any other company in the automotive sector to connect mobility with energy, building, and industrial technologies.
¹ Since February 2015, Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH (formerly ZF Lenksysteme GmbH) has been consolidated as part of the Mobility Solutions business sector.
