Supplier Bosch Seeing Returns on Electromobility Investments

Bosch says electromobility is finally paying off with an expected sales revenue of €1 billion ($1.2 billion) added to its bottom line this year.

The automotive supply giant also expects sales to grow by a factor of five by 2025. These growth areas include automated driving, with increased revenues from advanced driver assistance systems.

Also, despite a drop-off in earnings from mobility solutions owing to the pandemic last year, Bosch expects sales revenues from its business in this sector will grow 10% this year.

With electromobility, it’s about time the company is seeing some returns on its huge investment in the sector in recent years. With upfront investments totaling €5 billion ($6 billion) so far, the company is following this up with another €700 million (829 million).

At this week’s IAA International Motor Show 2021 in Munich, Bosch presented a new flexible charging cable for electric cars. It features integrated control and safety technology and adapters for Level 2 and household plugs.

Even when recharging at a 230V power socket, Bosch says the system can do without the otherwise usual in-cable control box, which means it weighs less than 7 lbs. (3.2 kg), about 40% less than conventional charging cables.

At the same time, its web-based recharging service in Europe gives EV owners access to more than 200,000 charge spots distributed across the continent.

Volkmar Denner-Bosch

“Electromobility will become a core business for us, and CO2-free mobility a growth area,” Volkmar Denner, chairman of the Bosch board of management, says at the show.

“We are turning challenges into opportunities. We are preparing for increasing demand for electric vehicles across the globe. Worldwide, we expect that 60% of all newly registered vehicles in 2035 will be electric.”

On the challenges facing future mobility, Denner (pictured above, left) says climate change will be a big focus both for the industry and consumer. “It must be climate-friendly, but it also has to be affordable and attractive, in light of the ambitious targets set by the EU,” he says. “Only in this way will people and freight stay mobile in the future as well.”

He says the company is keeping its options open on future powertrain energy sources, is investing heavily in hydrogen fuel-cell technology for long-range applications and is involved in customer projects in China, the U.S. and Europe. The first trucks featuring Bosch technology are already on the road in China.

With automated driving technology, the company boasts a portfolio of products including domain control units, sensors and artificial intelligence. Not least among these elements are enhanced assistance functions that allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel.

“With pilot projects in the areas of automated valet parking, Bosch has set standards in Germany and the United States,” Denner says.

He points to a parking garage pilot project with automated technology including fixed-installation video cameras. Another 1,000 parking garages are expected to follow suit by 2025.

Bosch says electromobility is finally paying off with an expected sales revenue of €1 billion ($1.2 billion) added to its bottom line this year.

The automotive supply giant also expects sales to grow by a factor of five by 2025. These growth areas include automated driving, with increased revenues from advanced driver assistance systems.

Also, despite a drop-off in earnings from mobility solutions owing to the pandemic last year, Bosch expects sales revenues from its business in this sector will grow 10% this year.

With electromobility, it’s about time the company is seeing some returns on its huge investment in the sector in recent years. With upfront investments totaling €5 billion ($6 billion) so far, the company is following this up with another €700 million (829 million).

At this week’s IAA International Motor Show 2021 in Munich, Bosch presented a new flexible charging cable for electric cars. It features integrated control and safety technology and adapters for Level 2 and household plugs.

Even when recharging at a 230V power socket, Bosch says the system can do without the otherwise usual in-cable control box, which means it weighs less than 7 lbs. (3.2 kg), about 40% less than conventional charging cables.

At the same time, its web-based recharging service in Europe gives EV owners access to more than 200,000 charge spots distributed across the continent.

“Electromobility will become a core business for us, and CO2-free mobility a growth area,” Volkmar Denner, chairman of the Bosch board of management, says at the show.

“We are turning challenges into opportunities. We are preparing for increasing demand for electric vehicles across the globe. Worldwide, we expect that 60% of all newly registered vehicles in 2035 will be electric.”

On the challenges facing future mobility, Denner says climate change will be a big focus both for the industry and consumer. “It must be climate-friendly, but it also has to be affordable and attractive, in light of the ambitious targets set by the EU,” he says. “Only in this way will people and freight stay mobile in the future as well.”

He says the company is keeping its options open on future powertrain energy sources, is investing heavily in hydrogen fuel-cell technology for long-range applications and is involved in customer projects in China, the U.S. and Europe. The first trucks featuring Bosch technology are already on the road in China.

With automated driving technology, the company boasts a portfolio of products including domain control units, sensors and artificial intelligence. Not least among these elements are enhanced assistance functions that allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel.

“With pilot projects in the areas of automated valet parking, Bosch has set standards in Germany and the United States,” Denner says.

He points to a parking garage pilot project with automated technology including fixed-installation video cameras. Another 1,000 parking garages are expected to follow suit by 2025.