Bosch Group targets 10 percent growth in auto sales in 2015

The Bosch Group says its mobility (automotive) business is growing significantly faster than the global automotive market. 

"Bosch takes a leading role in the forthcoming change in the automotive industry. Whether automation, electrification and networking, Bosch is already successfully in all areas, "said Dr Volkmar Denner, chairman and CEO of Robert Bosch GmbH, at the International Motor Show (IAA). 

The Business Unit Mobility Solutions expects sales growth of around 10 percent, currency-adjusted by five percent in 2015. ^.During the same period, the global automotive production will increase only marginally. Bosch says the basis for growth is its efficient combustion technology and it aims to sell 15 percent more gasoline direct injection systems and 10 percent more diesel high-pressure injection systems this year. Also, sales of ESP systems are slated to increase again by a quarter. "With our innovative strength in all growth trends of mobility, we also open up new customer groups and business opportunities across the automotive industry beyond," said Dr Denner. 

Bosch is also combining vehicle technology , the data-cloud and services to complete mobility solutions. Future customers of these solutions are new entrants like Tesla, Google, motorcycle manufacturers and car sharing providers. 

The global technology and services provider has also effected a potential breakthrough in battery technology with solid body cells for electric cars. With the purchase of US startup Seeo Inc, Bosch now has important expertise in the field of novel solid-state cells. The technology complements the recent developments of the company and its Japanese partners GS Yuasa and Mitsubishi Corporation. Until now, the goal was to double the energy density in the course of this decade and to halve their costs. Bosch sees the potential to increase the energy content of lithium-ion cells even further with the Seeo technology.  

Automated Driving: a major sales driver 
The trend towards self-driving cars is already a major sales driver at Bosch. Assistance systems such as lane departure warning or emergency braking systems can be found in more and more new cars. Sales of radar and video sensors doubled in 2015 for the second year in a row. 

This high demand has seen Bosch reach the turnover threshold of one billion euros (Rs 7,644 crore) with driver assistance systems. To drive growth in this segment, the supplier employs approximately 2,000 developers, over 700 more than two years ago.

Also read: Bosch acquires Seeo Inc, gets hands on groundbreaking battery tech for EVs