Bosch UK registers solid sales growth

Connectivity to drive continued market success

• UK sales increases 6.3 percent to £2.7 billion in 2015
• Mobility Solutions, Consumer Goods, Energy and Building Technology sectors recorded strong growth
• Automated driving and smart buildings strategic focus for 2016

Denham – Bosch, the leading global supplier of technology and services, generated £2.7 billion (€3.7 billion) sales in the UK in 2015. The full acquisition of two former fifty-fifty joint ventures, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH and Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH, pushed sales up by more than £800 million, or 42 percent. Bosch saw growth in its operations as well: sales calculated on a comparable basis increased by 6.3 percent, adjusted for exchange-rate representing a growth of 1.7 percent in Pound Sterling.

“The UK is the second largest European market for Bosch, and one which we believe is well placed to achieve further growth in coming years. We expect this to be driven by an increasing demand for connectivity in the Mobility Solutions and Energy and Building Technology sectors as well as a growing interest in Industry 4.0 from UK manufacturers” said Steffen Hoffmann, president of Bosch UK.

The number of associates employed at Bosch in the UK in 2015 has reached approximately 5,300 across 41 sites.

Positive development across business sectors

A number of Bosch UK business sectors performed strongly in 2015. The Mobility Solutions sector achieved double digit growth, outperforming market growth in the UK. This was mainly driven by the company’s powertrain, driver assistance and infotainment systems.

The Consumer Goods sector saw approximately 5% increase in sales, with the sector’s best-selling products including cordless power tools and household appliances such as its range of connected ovens, creating perfect cooking results every time.

The Energy and Building Technology sector, also registered a solid increase in sales. The sector’s strong success can be attributed to its involvement in large infrastructure projects and its connected smart heating solutions.

Strategic focus on Internet of Things

Connected products and internet-based services and solutions remain the key focus areas for the company’s future sales growth. This technology already makes up a significant element of the sales offering from all Bosch divisions.

Developments in connected and automated mobility will continue to drive strong growth in the UK. In February 2016, Bosch announced a lead role in the MOVE_UK project, which benefits from a £5.5 million grant awarded by InnovateUK. This will see driverless technology trialled in real world conditions on roads in Greenwich, London increasing the rate of development and testing of these technologies at a lower cost to vehicle manufacturers.

Connected manufacturing practices, such as Industry 4.0, will become an increasing focus for Bosch in the UK in coming years. Bosch is working with the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry to develop connected manufacturing solutions specific to UK manufacturers and train apprentices on this new technology. The company is a leading provider and exponent of industry 4.0. Connected industry solutions are already being implemented at more than 100 Bosch manufacturing facilities worldwide. Bosch’s recent announcement that it would combine standards from the German platform Industry 4.0 and the global Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) providing a common approach across connected manufacturing is expected to attract UK manufacturers.

Bosch also expects its connectivity solutions to yield further growth for the Energy and Building Technology sector. The company is poised to take advantage of increased market interest in smart heating and building control technologies. We expect to launch our new range Smart Home solutions in the UK in 2016.

“A successful connectivity business must offer products and services that provide solutions to real everyday challenges and make life more comfortable and safe for companies and consumers alike,” said Steffen. “For example, energy costs and efficiency are becoming an increasingly significant competitive factor for UK manufacturers and private residents. It is all about improving the quality of life.”

Bosch Group worldwide business outlook for 2016

Following a record year in 2015, the Bosch Group wants to continue its growth trend this year. The leading global supplier of technology and services expects worldwide sales to grow within an exchange rate-adjusted range of 3 to 5 percent in 2016. Speaking at the company’s annual press conference in Germany in April, Bosch CEO Volkmar Denner said: “We plan to grow not only with innovative products, but also with innovative services.” In the connectivity business, Bosch focuses on the “3S’s”: sensors, software, and services. The company is increasingly using connected services to build on its broad basis in the hardware business. As it does so, Bosch benefits not just from its technological diversification, but also from its wide-ranging industry and domain expertise. The newly created Bosch Global Service Solutions division, the recently established Bosch IoT Cloud, as well as the Bosch Smart Home System launched at the start of 2016 contribute to this strategy.   

Contact person for press inquiries: 

Rianne Ojeh, 01895 838 822,

Email: Rianne.Ojeh@uk.bosch.com

In the UK, Bosch has been present since 1898, when Robert Bosch opened the company’s first office outside Germany. Every one of the Bosch Group’s business sectors has a presence in the UK: Automotive Technology, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. Bosch operates in the UK as Robert Bosch Limited and employs around 5,300 associates across 41 sites. In 2015, Bosch generated revenues in the UK of 3.7 billion euros.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 375,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2015). The company generated sales of 70.6 billion euros in 2015. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing and sales network covers some 150 countries. The basis for the company’s future growth is its innovative strength. Bosch employs 55,800 associates in research and development at 118 locations across the globe. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to deliver innovations for a connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.”

The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.” The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.

Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com and www.bosch-press.com, http://twitter.com/BoschPresse.