KUALA LUMPUR: Bosch Malaysia will continue to focus on leveraging its global network, engineering capabilities, and manufacturing strengths.
“With an increasingly unpredictable global environment, the local market is also becoming more discerning and cautious in its spending. This reinforces that no business can afford complacency," said Bosch and Bosch Rexroth Malaysia managing director Darren Chan.
"At the same time, Malaysia continues to offer a relatively resilient economic landscape, conducive to long-term investment and business operations,” added Chan, who became the first Malaysian to assume the country managing director role in mid-2025.
He said the company will deepen its collaboration with government stakeholders on national priorities such as talent development and the localisation of the automotive manufacturing value chain.
Bosch Malaysia had concluded financial year 2025 with total net sales of 1.408 billion euros (RM6.807bil), which includes sales of non-consolidated companies and internal deliveries to affiliated companies.
This figure represents a decline of six percent.
Consolidated sales to third parties in Malaysia amounted to 165.5 million euros (RM800mil), reflecting a year-on-year decline of 14 percent.
Bosch’s operations in Penang remain central to its regional strategy, forming its largest high-tech engineering hub in Southeast Asia, with production spanning mobility electronics, power tools, and semiconductors.
In 2025, Bosch also announced plans to establish a motorsports hub through a technology transfer apprenticeship programme during the Super GT Malaysia 2025 event, partnering with international car racer Jazeman Jaafar to build a pipeline of regionally competitive engineering talent.
Separately, Bosch celebrated the 10th anniversary of the German dual vocational training programme in Malaysia together with the Malaysian-German chamber of commerce and industry.
The milestone reaffirmed the role of Bosch mobility plant in Penang as a founding member of the programme, and its continued contribution to upskilling and developing a future-ready local
workforce.
When it comes to innovative strength, Bosch is one of the strongest industrial companies in the world and one of the most prolific patent applicants in Europe.
Bosch registered around 6,300 patents in 2025 and was once again the leader in Germany.
Meanwhile, in the automotive industry, China is currently setting the standard for price levels.
Robert Bosch GmbH chairman Stefan Hartung therefore sees the expansion of innovation leadership as a key success factor for expanding business, particularly in the automotive market, and implementing the company’s Strategy 2030, which foresees Bosch being one of the three leading suppliers in its key markets.
Trade barriers and different user expectations are currently both a challenge and an opportunity for regionally adapted solutions.
“In international competition, it’s not just about costs, but above all about differentiating ourselves,” Hartung said, referring to Bosch’s global footprint, which he sees as a competitive advantage.
“We can adapt our offerings and supply chains to regional conditions and at the same time deliver global-level quality.”
Bosch expects the market for automotive software to be worth around 200 billion euros (RM932.5bil) by 2030.
As a result, Hartung sees great growth opportunities in software-defined mobility.
“Bosch is at the forefront in this area and is now literally bringing AI into the driver’s field of vision,” Hartung said.
The new Bosch AI Extension Platform is an AI-capable high-performance computer that, in conjunction with an interior sensing solution, turns driving into a highly personalised experience.
“The vehicle recognises who’s at the wheel and detects whether there are any other passengers on board, then adjusts everything: from the exterior mirrors and vehicle handling to optimized airbag deployment in the event of an accident.”
Product innovations in intelligent driver assistance solutions are also generating new business across all regions of the world: together with sensor technologies and central vehicle computers, Bosch secured orders worth 10 billion euros (RM46.6bil) in 2025.
“Of course, the cars of the future will need not only algorithms but also powertrains,” Hartung said with regard to the growing business with electromobility.
“This year alone, we will deliver more than seven million solutions and components for electric driving.”
Just a few weeks ago, Bosch announced a joint venture with Tata AutoComp Systems in India.
Starting in the middle of the year, it will focus on the development, manufacturing, and sale of electric axles and motors in the Indian market.
