Bosch restructures commercial vehicle sector with focus on electric

HANOVER: German automotive supplier Bosch plans to bundle its commercial vehicle business into a new unit from the start of next year with a view to expanding its operations in this sector, the company announced here on Monday.

Making the announcement at the IAA Transportation commercial vehicle trade fair, Bosch said that around a quarter of its total turnover could be attributed to the sector.

"We are expecting a further boost to growth for our business in the years ahead from the continuing imminent growth in global goods transport and the simultaneous switch to alternative drives in commercial vehicles," Bosch Mobility head Markus Heyn said.

The company intended to make use of these opportunities by combining system development with product and portfolio management for trucks and off-road applications.

"We are convinced that we can offer our customers added value through this new setup," Jan-Oliver Röhrl, the head of the new business unit, said.

Bosch predicts that by 2030 a fifth of all large trucks will be electrically powered, and a third by 2035. An additional 10% could then be powered by fuel cells, according to the company's predictions.