With more than 70 manufacturers, over one-fourth of all newly registered cars worldwide, and hundreds of millions of potential customers, China is at the heart of the global automobile industry. Despite taking time out at the moment, China remains the world’s largest automotive market ahead of Europe and the U.S., thanks to sales of 23.7 million cars. Last year, Bosch once again held its own in China. “Our Mobility Solutions business sector performed well in a difficult environment in 2018,” Dr. Stefan Hartung, a member of the Bosch board of management and chairman of the Mobility Solutions business sector, said at Auto Shanghai 2019. In 2018, Bosch’s OEM sector increased its sales in China by 1 percent to 10.5 billion euros1, accounting for roughly 22 percent of Mobility Solutions’ global sales. Among other factors, Bosch benefited from strong demand for electromobility and driver assistance solutions, as well as from brisk business in commercial-vehicle technology on the back of a 3 percent rise in sales to 4.4 million vehicles in 2018.
“Our Mobility Solutions business sector performed well in a difficult environment in 2018.” Dr. Stefan Hartung, a member of the Bosch board of management and chairman of the Mobility Solutions business sector
China continues to offer tremendous potential for Bosch Mobility
Solutions
However, Bosch does not expect 2019 to be an easy year for the Chinese automotive market. “In the Chinese market, the brakes will stay on this year,” Hartung said, while rejecting any calls for pessimism. With the number of vehicles per 1,000 people in China currently at around 170 vehicles, for example, there is still potential for vehicle unit sales to grow. In Germany, that figure stands at approximately 690 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants. “The Chinese market is far from saturated. The potential for Bosch remains tremendous in the medium to long term,” Hartung added. Bosch offers a broad portfolio in China, maintaining 23 manufacturing sites and employing some 34,500 associates. In addition, 5,600 researchers and engineers are working on new mobility solutions. China’s future plans for the domestic automotive market are highly promising, as is the growing new energy vehicle (NEV) segment.
Electrification, connectivity, and automation are the future
The segment of vehicles featuring battery, fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid powertrains grew by more than 50 percent in 2018, corresponding to 1.26 million NEVs sold. In the past, China has provided generous subsidies for alternative powertrains. Even though the government has since cut back its funding and plans to completely phase out its subsidies in the long term, the future in China belongs to NEVs. Bosch is approaching future powertrain technology with an open mind. The supplier of technology and services will continue to improve the internal-combustion engine and is the leader in the market for electromobility in China. Bosch’s sales in the NEV segment doubled between 2017 and 2018, and the foundation for further growth has already been laid. Bosch is slated to begin production of the e-axle in Taicang this year. The e-axle combines power electronics, engine, and transmission in one compact housing. In addition, production of the 48-volt battery began in Wuxi last year.
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SOURCE: Bosch
