Bosch Corporation Business report FY2009

Business Highlights

Business Policies

-The Company announced its business plan for 2009. The Company predicted that the sales will decline upwards of 20 percent in 2009 compared with the previous fiscal term because of uncertainty over recovery in demand for its main product, diesel engine units, due to a still slow truck market, and it is difficult to assure profitability, hinting at inevitability of declining sales and profit. Nevertheless, the Company said the Company believes a car sought by consumers will make a big change after the market rebounds, and stressed the Company will continue to invest in R&D and human resources at the same levels as before despite under the harsh business environment with the aim of establishing solid capabilities for responding to new challenges. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on May 29, 2009)

R&D

R&D Structure

-In Nov. 2009, the Company has held a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the expansion project at its Technical Center Memanbetsu in Hokkaido. The main purpose of the expansion was to strengthen the Company's development capability, especially in the area of automotive safety devices such as electronic stability control systems, demand for which is projected to increase. The completed facility has a floor area of 2,613 square meters, double that of the original one. The Company is investing a total of 7.8 billion yen in enhancing two of its development centers: the Technical Center Memanbetsu and its Yokohama office in Kanagawa Prefecture. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on Nov. 14, 2009)