Bosch Buys Supplier that Disrupted BMW Production

Robert Bosch GmbH has opted to acquire the Italian subcontractor whose manufacturing problems triggered production disruptions for BMW AG on three continents.

Bosch tells Reuters it is in the process of acquiring Albertini Cesare SpA, a family-owned supplier of aluminum die-castings used in steering systems Bosch supplied for BMW’s 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5-Series small cars. Terms were not disclosed.

Albertini employs 660 people at four factories in Italy, generating about €100 million in revenue per year. The company makes housings, brackets, engine blocks, cylinder heads and transmission valve bodies. Its customers include Audi, BMW, Jtekt, Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Pierburg, PSA Group, Renault, Trelleborg, Volkswagen and ZF.

Bosch has since resolved its supply chain problem with Albertini, thereby enabling BMW to resume normal production operations at affected factories in China, Germany and South Africa.