The Hindu Business Line : Bosch developing cheaper key components for low-cost cars

New plans
Bosch is already testing a new ABS system in Sweden.
Its automotive technology sales in Asia-Pacific had increased five-fold in the last one decade.

MR BERND BOHR

Recently in Boxberg Germany Bosch's marquee products like common rail direct injection systems (CRDi) and anti-lock braking system (ABS) could find their way into new low cost passenger car models, which are expected to hit the Asian market in the next couple of years. In a slight shift from its focus on developing technologies for high-end and luxury automotives, Bosch will be targeting the segment preferred pre-dominantly by users for fuel efficiency.

The Bosch Group's Indian subsidiary Mico Bosch already supplies CRDi and ABS for high priced cars and utility vehicles. CRDi helps in fuel efficiency while ABS ensures steering safety by preventing the wheels being locked in the event of emergency braking.

Bosch is now developing a new CRDi system and ABS that will be at least 25 to 30 per cent cheaper and will be suitable for lower-priced cars, said Mr Bernd Bohr, Chairman Automotive Group, Robert Bosch GmbH, at the 58th International Press Briefing at Boxberg, in Germany.

Bosch is already testing a new ABS system in Sweden and the technology for this has been borrowed, to some extent, from high-powered motorcycles in Japan, he said, adding that the company was also working on a CRDi system that can be used in small two-cylinder diesel engines for cars as well as three-wheelers.

Dr Bohr said, "Our common rail sales in India and China will increase significantly from 1,00,000 systems in 2007 to 1.3 million in each of the countries by 2010."

Bosch's automotive technology sales in Asia-Pacific had increased five-fold in the last one decade. In India and China its business grew by 30 per cent in 2006, Dr Bohr said.

Bosch's renewed emphasis on lower-priced cars comes at a time when leading automotive manufacturers are eyeing the emerging markets for volumes. Also with these fast growing markets expecting to witness a six per cent growth against one per cent in the saturating markets of Europe and North America, Bosch finds the venture more viable.

`Sensitive car'

Globally, Bosch's R&D is focused not only on clean and economical driving system but also to make driving much safer, sophisticated and comfortable. "We are working flat out on developing `sensitive car' that will be able to see what is happening all around it, thanks to sensors and ultra-high performance electronic systems," said Dr Bohr.

A major development at Bosch is the combination of radar and video sensor technology that aims to make the vision of accident free driving as much of reality as possible.

Answering a question Dr Bohr said providing competitively priced CRDi system for the low cost vehicle planned to be produced by Tata Motors was "indeed possible".

He said in view of the structural changes that catapulted APAC over the developed markets, Bosch will gear up its activities more than ever before to the imperative needs, Dr Bohr said.

More Stories on : Outlook | Automobile Components

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page