Harder, better, faster, stronger
OEMs are behind-the-scene heroes of the automotive industry and we celebrate the centenary of one of the biggest names in India
BOSCH IS A LEADER IN VEHICLE SAFETY ELECTRONICS
BOSCH INDIA, A LEADING SUPPLIER of technologies, services for mobility solutions, energy and power tools celebrated its 100th Anniversary in the country recently. “Bosch India has brought together the best of German engineering and Indian entrepreneurship to develop innovative products across all segments,” said Dr Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH.
Bosch opened its first sales agency in the country in 1922 at Kolkata. Since then the company has expanded to 18 manufacturing sites, seven development centres and 31,500 associates in the country, supplying OEMs with technologies such as fuel injection systems, power tools and engine management units. Bosch is a leader in vehicle safety electronics such as ABS systems.
While our favourite Bosch products continue to be their extremely effective high-pressure washers (our go-to workhorses for cleaning cars and motorcycles after particularly mucky shoots), the company actually helped mechanise Indian agriculture during the days of the green revolution and they’ve kept upgrading themselves to prove as a useful ally even today when it comes to software and even mobility solutions. “Bosch’s 100-year journey in India is a testament to the passion, hard work and dedication of our associates. I sincerely thank our associates for the part they have played in this,” said Soumitra Bhattacharya, the managing director of Bosch Limited and president of the Bosch Group in India.
The company also supports the government’s vision to reduce road accidents by over 50 per cent by 2025, with their expertise in assisted and automated mobility, motorcycle safety, rider assistance, along with braking and occupant safety. Bosch has already invested `380 crore over the last decade specifically in the safety domain, and over the next five years, the company will pump in an additional `238 crore. As for the future, Bosch wants to help improve the employability of young people in India by partnering with ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes) and the company has also planned to invest more than `1,000 crore in localisation of advanced automotive tech in the country. What does that mean for you as an enthusiast and car/bike buyer? Bosch’s products and automotive technologies stand to be more aggressively priced in the future, meaning that high-quality components in your vehicle will not necessarily translate to a dearer price tag. ⌧