Bosch has begun production of ABS (anti-lock braking systems) and ESP (electronic stability programme) systems at its new plant in the Samara Region in Russia. By the end of 2016, Bosch will have invested around 50 million euros (Rs 382 crore) in construction of the more than 22,000 square metre plant, production and testing equipment.
“The factory in Samara is the second Bosch automotive technology plant in Russia after the one in Engels in the Saratov Region,” said Gerhard Pfeifer, president of Bosch in Russia, representative of the Bosch Group in the CIS countries, Georgia and Mongolia. “Its opening marks a new stage in the implementation of Bosch’s long-term strategy aimed at localizing production directly in the region.”
Initially, the plant will produce ABS and ESP systems for cars assembled in Russia.
“Modern driver assistance systems developed by Bosch, such as ABS and ESP, are effective solutions that greatly enhance driving safety,” said Christian Schneider, the plant`s general manager. “We are confident that mass production of vehicles with these systems will significantly reduce the incidence of accidents on Russian roads.”
Bosch, which has over 30 years of experience with active and passive security systems, was the first to design a system to control skidding at high speed, launching it into mass production in 1995. Since then Bosch has made a major contribution to saving human lives on the road.
The opening ceremony of the plant was attended by Samara Region Governor Nikolai Merkushkin, Samara Region Economy Minister Alexander Kobenko, Head of the Administration of the Samara Region’s Volga District Alexander Balandin, President of Robert Bosch Gerhard Pfeifer, President of Chassis Systems Control Robert Bosch GmbH Gerhard Steiger, General Manager of OOO “Robert Bosch Samara” Christian Schneider and other officials.