<p>Bosch Automotive Electronics India Private Ltd (BAE) — a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of Bosch Group, has set up a manufacturing facility at Naganathapura, Bangalore. <br /><br />On Tuesday, it was inaugurated by Robert Bosch GmbH Automotive Group Chairman Bernd Bohr. An ECU integrates all required functions of modern engine control, through a chip and software, to control fuel injection and ignition for motor vehicles. Bosch, so far, has invested Rs 60 crore in this plant and as per the plan, it will invest a total sum of Rs 300 crore in this facility by 2013. The target production capacity of this plant is 2.5 million ECU a year and in the first year it will produce 100,000 ECUs, the company said. <br />Development strategy<br /><br />Briefing reporters, Bohr said “our strategy in the emerging markets is to increase localisation in management, development and production. The new facility of ECU is another significant step in that direction.” <br /><br />On global recession and its impact on world auto industry, he said that after a bad 2008, the first quarter in 2009 saw 30 per cent drop in automotive sales. “In the whole year 2009, there will be a degrowth, but I expect the recovery to begin from mid 2010.”<br /><br />Bosch India Managing Director V K Viswanathan pointed out that in the Indian market there are already signs of demand recovery in the auto sector. “In the last two months we have gone back to three shifts of production in our main plants”, he said. <br /><br />Bosch, he added, has not only retained its work force despite the slowdown in demand last year, it plans to recruit 2,000 more in 2009, to add to Bosch Group’s total staff strength of 18,030 employees.</p>
<p>Bosch Automotive Electronics India Private Ltd (BAE) — a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of Bosch Group, has set up a manufacturing facility at Naganathapura, Bangalore. <br /><br />On Tuesday, it was inaugurated by Robert Bosch GmbH Automotive Group Chairman Bernd Bohr. An ECU integrates all required functions of modern engine control, through a chip and software, to control fuel injection and ignition for motor vehicles. Bosch, so far, has invested Rs 60 crore in this plant and as per the plan, it will invest a total sum of Rs 300 crore in this facility by 2013. The target production capacity of this plant is 2.5 million ECU a year and in the first year it will produce 100,000 ECUs, the company said. <br />Development strategy<br /><br />Briefing reporters, Bohr said “our strategy in the emerging markets is to increase localisation in management, development and production. The new facility of ECU is another significant step in that direction.” <br /><br />On global recession and its impact on world auto industry, he said that after a bad 2008, the first quarter in 2009 saw 30 per cent drop in automotive sales. “In the whole year 2009, there will be a degrowth, but I expect the recovery to begin from mid 2010.”<br /><br />Bosch India Managing Director V K Viswanathan pointed out that in the Indian market there are already signs of demand recovery in the auto sector. “In the last two months we have gone back to three shifts of production in our main plants”, he said. <br /><br />Bosch, he added, has not only retained its work force despite the slowdown in demand last year, it plans to recruit 2,000 more in 2009, to add to Bosch Group’s total staff strength of 18,030 employees.</p>
