Published

Bosch: No Upturn for Europe’s Auto Market Until 2020

Robert Bosch GmbH predicts that Europe's auto industry will struggle with a stagnant market until 2020.
#economics

Share

Robert Bosch GmbH predicts that Europe's auto industry will struggle with a stagnant market until 2020.

Wolf-Henning Scheider, who heads Bosch's automotive operations, tells Automobilwoche the company has capped R&D budgets to help maintain earnings. He also anticipates no cuts in capacity in Europe. He says Bosch will attempt to avoid layoffs by capturing new business to offset declines elsewhere.

The operating margin for Bosch's automotive group fell from 8.3% in 2010 to 7.7% in 2011 and 4.5% last year.

The group's vehicle technology division contributes about 60% of Bosch's total automotive revenue. Scheider predicts the unit will post an operating margin of 8% in two years. But he declines to say when the entire group's result will be that strong.

RELATED CONTENT

  • On Global EV Sales, Lean and the Supply Chain & Dealing With Snow

    The distribution of EVs and potential implications, why lean still matters even with supply chain issues, where there are the most industrial robots, a potential coming shortage that isn’t a microprocessor, mapping tech and obscured signs, and a look at the future

  • VW Warns of Higher Costs to Develop EVs

    CEO Herbert Diess says the €20 billion ($23 billion) Volkswagen AG has budgeted to electrify its entire vehicle lineup won’t be enough to meet that goal.

  • Porsche Doubles EV Target for 2025

    Porsche AG says about half the vehicles it sells by 2025 will be equipped with hybrid or all-electric powertrains, twice the ratio it forecast four weeks ago.

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions