Focus on connected vehicles for automated and efficient driving
– In the UK sales of 2.4 billion Euros achieved in 2012
– Automotive technology remains largest business sector
– Great market potential for safety and driver assistance systems
– More focus on networked technology for a better quality of life
– Continued focus in the UK on customer service and training
The Bosch Group in the UK generated sales of 2.4 billion Euros in 2012, signifying another year of growth despite a challenging economic environment. The sixth biggest market worldwide for the leading supplier of technology and services, the UK is now home to approximately 4,400 associates working across 40 sites.
In the UK, Bosch has reinforced its commitment to its customers by opening two new automotive engineering sites in 2013; MIRA Technology Park, near Nuneaton and Warwick Technology Park, at the University of Warwick. The new sites will help Bosch provide an even more complete engineering service to its automotive customers in the UK. Peter Fouquet, the president of Bosch UK comments: “Our focus is to continuously invest in providing specialised and world class service and training to our customers.” This follows the recent opening of Bosch’s new service and training centre for the automotive aftermarket sector. Peter added: “We have plans to further expand our customer and training facilities, especially to our customers in the North.” The soon to be opened new northern site combines three existing Bosch locations operated by its Bosch Rexroth subsidiary, in addition to Worcester, Bosch training centre.
In 2013, Bosch is continuing to pursue its strategy of providing technology for environmental protection, energy efficiency, and safety. Connected technology across networks is the key to improving our daily lives. Bosch is ideally positioned to play a role in this ‘connected life’ with its hardware, software, and sensor-technology know-how as well as its diversified portfolio.
Automotive Technology
Automotive Technology remains the largest sector for the company both in the UK and globally, accounting for nearly 60 percent of sales globally. Peter commented: “Our main development objectives are safer and more eco-friendly cars. Currently, more than 5,000 engineers worldwide are working on safety and driver assistance systems and Bosch predicts sales for these systems will grow by 10 percent per annum.” This growth will be driven by a new European rating scheme for vehicle safety. From 2014, new vehicles will only receive the top mark if they have at least one driver assistance sensor on board. Peter said: “Since 2000, Bosch has produced 1 million radar sensors and we expect this number to reach 10 million by 2016.”
Connected vehicles
As development of automated functions continues, with their safe integration into the car being a core Bosch strength, there becomes a greater focus on the exchange of data among vehicles. “Automated driving will be networked driving,” Peter added. By networking automotive systems, Bosch also aims to unlock further potential for efficiency and environmental protection. Bosch engineers are modifying the internationally successful Start-Stop system to include smart navigation functions. Here, the combination of networked technology and driving behaviour can bring about a fuel saving of as much as 15 percent.
Investments in the company’s future
Bosch invested some 8 billion Euros in the company’s future in 2012: 4.8 billion Euros for research and development, and 3.2 billion Euros in capital expenditure. Out of the total R&D spend, 45 percent went into products to conserve resources and protect the environment, and nearly 20 percent was invested in products for safety and health.
Bosch Group business developments 2012-2013
In fiscal 2012, Bosch Group sales grew 1.9 percent to 52.5 billion euros. Pre-tax profit came to 2.8 billion euros. Developments in the business sectors differed. In 2012, Automotive Technology, the largest business sector, increased its sales by 2.1 percent to 31.1 billion euros. Sales of the Industrial Technology business sector stagnated at 8.0 billion euros. The Consumer Goods and Building Technology business sector generated sales of 13.4 billion euros, a 2.5 percent increase. Headcount, adjusted to match the company’s business development over the course of the past year, rose only slightly, by 3,400 to 305,900.
For 2013, Bosch expects global sales growth of 2 to 4 percent. The measures to improve result that were started in 2012 – such as limits on fixed costs, capital expenditure, and company acquisitions – are to be continued. The supplier of technology and services will also continue to rigorously pursue the main lines of its strategy – with systems for environmental protection, energy efficiency, and safety. Bosch believes that there is huge energy-efficiency potential, as well as sales potential, in modernising buildings’ power supply, energy management, and insulation. On January 1, 2013, Bosch brought together the areas of its business that deal with this to form a fourth business sector, Energy and Building Technology. This new business sector generated sales of 5 billion euros in 2012. The company also expects sales growth to come from innovative and beneficial products, web-based business models, and the further expansion of its international presence. At the company’s recent annual press conference in Germany, Dr. Volkmar Denner, the chairman of the Bosch board of management, said: “Bosch’s broad footprint has never been as valuable as in the age of connected life.”
