Mumbai/Delhi: As the worldwide mobility trade evolves, India is gaining prominence each as a strategic market and a powerhouse of engineering innovation for German main Bosch. At present contributing about 5 per cent to Bosch’s international mobility enterprise, the India division goals to double its share to 10 per cent by the beginning of the subsequent decade. The rise of software-defined autos (SDVs), rising automobile volumes, and better content material per automobile pushed by electrification and premiumisation are anticipated to gas this progress, stated a high firm official. Bosch’s international mobility enterprise stands at €55.8 billion, supported by a community of 490 subsidiaries throughout 60 nations.“India holds international system and part tasks, backed by Bosch International Software program Applied sciences (BGSW) as a key growth spine, and stays a crucial pillar of Bosch’s international operations. Past engineering assist, it additionally serves as a hub for AI innovation and superior growth processes,” Andreas Dempf, Head of Gross sales and Clients for the Mobility Options enterprise sector at Bosch, advised ETAuto.
BGSW in India is a key subsidiary of the German engineering and know-how Bosch Group, and serves as its international software program and know-how growth arm.
Dempf identified that BGSW is central to Bosch’s international transformation, with its affect extending effectively past India. The 24,000 engineers based mostly in Bengaluru, Coimbatore, and Pune kind the core of the corporate’s international software program and AI capabilities. That is supported by nearshore subsidiaries in Vietnam, Poland, and Mexico, which replicate India’s work whereas catering to regional wants—Vietnam for Japan, and Mexico for North America. This international construction offers each scale and cultural proximity, enabling environment friendly and localised execution throughout markets.
Bosch’s international two-wheeler headquarters stays in Yokohama, however key powertrain tasks, for each electrical and ICE are shifting to India. Whereas China continues to guide the electrification enterprise, India is quick rising as a central hub in Bosch’s international two-wheeler realignment.
Globally, and particularly in Europe with the altering pattern within the sector, Bosch is downsizing or “rightsizing” its worker depend, as are another international organisations. The largest problem is to “grasp” efficiency, restructuring and transformation, whereas additionally investing in new applied sciences.
Bosch mobility’s reorganisation
In 2023, the German firm introduced a realignment of its automotive provide enterprise, designating Bosch Mobility as a definite enterprise sector with its personal devoted management staff and full operational accountability. The Board now oversees {hardware}, together with electronics, semiconductors, and sensors, in addition to software program growth.
Dempf famous that historically, Bosch’s robust {hardware} divisions led growth with software program in a supporting position. Now, adopting a software-first mindset, structure and software program take the lead in shaping market narratives. Trade conversations, going ahead, will more and more give attention to EE (electronics and electrical) and software program architectures.
Whereas {hardware} property proceed to be developed by enterprise items, Bosch is basically shifting the way it presents its choices. “The transformation is ongoing and can unfold over time.”
Dempf highlighted a serious transformation underway as steering, braking, and suspension capabilities converge onto a single software program platform, enabling software-defined autos (SDVs). This shift requires a unified working system and middleware layer to coordinate throughout domains.
He additional defined that as platform methods evolve, this transformation will increase complexity, with a software-first strategy basically altering system growth. The enterprise mannequin itself is shifting– not like conventional autos that required post-sale repairs, fashionable automobiles now obtain steady software program updates that improve options and driver help all through their lifecycle.
Electrification and in addition the necessity for a multi-fuel technique
Whereas electrification continues to be rising in India, primarily in two-wheelers and energy electronics for four-wheelers, Sandeep Nelamangala, President of Bosch Mobility India stated content material per automobile is steadily rising pushed by deeper know-how integration.
He additionally famous that electrification in India will probably be formed by three key elements– the upcoming CAFE-III norms in 2028 and the prevailing gas combine; rising shopper demand for consolation, comfort, and premium options; authorities coverage towards electrification pushed by rise in gas imports.
Globally, electrification nonetheless accounts for a small portion of Bosch’s enterprise, with China as a notable exception the place Bosch ranks among the many high three suppliers and has over 30 initiatives scaling up.
Dempf famous that hybrids, PHEVs, and vary extenders stay key parts of OEM portfolios, particularly as laws evolves in Europe. He identified that expectations for a speedy shift to pure battery electrical autos (BEVs) had been overly optimistic notably in Europe, the place volumes stagnated final 12 months, whereas China continued to see robust progress in BEVs alongside hybrids and vary extenders.
In the meantime, he identified {that a} key short-term problem within the powertrain transition is the danger of idling manufacturing strains, which is creating operational strain for suppliers.
For India, Nelamangala highlighted the significance of a multi-fuel technique and a tailor-made strategy for every automobile class.
Bosch, with its longstanding experience in diesel and gasoline, is leveraging Brazil as its international centre of competence to carry that experience to India. Trying forward, it sees India as a hub for ethanol competence. It’s also contemplating shifting two-wheeler electrical powertrain and traditional gasoline gas injection growth to India.
Concerning hydrogen know-how, it’s advancing each hydrogen-fueled ICE engines and gas cells. “We’ve established a central competence middle and demonstrator for hydrogen engines and are collaborating with OEMs on trial initiatives. Over the subsequent two to 3 years, the main target will probably be on gathering real-world efficiency information to evaluate the know-how’s potential.”
Nonetheless, profitable hydrogen adoption can even depend on infrastructure growth and inexpensive provide, making quantity ramp-up a posh problem forward.
China’s international lead in ADAS
Within the autonomous driving area, China is main speedy developments, with BYD’s current ‘God’s Eye’ system a notable instance. The market is pushing to make superior driver help programs (ADAS) commonplace throughout segments, notably at Degree 2 and the rising Degree 2+, which permits hands-off, eyes-on driving, primarily on highways.
Dempf highlighted that there’s additionally rising exploration of city functions, with the present know-how race centering on enhancing Degree 2+ capabilities utilizing generative AI.
Whereas headquartered in Europe, Bosch appeared assured that its important ADAS footprint in China will assist place it on the forefront of this innovation-driven race.
