Stuttgart, May 27, 2008 – Robert Bosch GmbH and MAHLE GmbH have founded a 50/50 joint venture for the development, production, and sale of exhaust gas turbochargers. The European anti-trust authorities have approved the founding of the joint venture. "Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems GmbH & Co. KG" will commence business on June 2, 2008.

The company's head office in Stuttgart will house the development, administration, and sales activities. Initially, around 100 employees will work here, with half drawn from each of the parent companies. Series production of exhaust gas turbochargers will begin in 2011 at existing locations in St. Michael ob Bleiburg, Austria, and Blaichach/Immenstadt, Germany. Up to 500 employees will manufacture major parts and components of a high quality and assemble exhaust gas turbochargers. These will be used in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, in both gasoline and diesel engines.

Dr. Martin Knopf and Dr. Andreas Prang have been appointed managing directors of the new company. "We are convinced that Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems will position itself as a preferred partner of international automobile manufacturers for the development and production of exhaust gas turbochargers. Concrete interest has already been shown during numerous discussions with customers," says Prang, responsible for production, purchasing, and quality management. "Now that exhaust gas turbochargers have been successfully used primarily in diesel engines, they will be used increasingly in gasoline engines in the future, in combination with direct gasoline injection for downsizing concepts. This will allow smaller engines to achieve better efficiency with comparable power output," explains Knopf, who is responsible for development, sales, and finances. Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems regards the exhaust gas turbocharger as one of the key technologies for the sustainable reduction of fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions.

About Bosch in China

Bosch founded its first trading office in China as early as 1909. In 1926, the first car service workshop opened in Shanghai. Today, all Bosch business sectors are present in China: Automotive and Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Building Technology. The company operates more than 30 businesses in China and has a holding company in Shanghai. Consolidated sales in China reached 1.8 billion euros in 2007. By the end of 2007, Bosch had invested around 1 billion euros in China, and between 2008 and 2010 it will invest a further 850 million euros. Some 17,000 Bosch associates are committed to bringing to Chinese customers the latest technology as well as the most reliable services to help improve their quality of life.

About the Bosch Group

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, more than 270,000 associates generated sales of over 46 billion euros in fiscal 2007. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 300 subsidiary and regional companies in some 50 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Bosch spends more than three billion euros each year for research and development, and in 2007 applied for over 3,300 patents worldwide. The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.”

For more information on Bosch Group, please visit http://www.bosch.com.cn

Contact for Journalists MAHLE GmbH: Birgit Albrecht Pragstraße 26 – 46 70376 Stuttgart Germany Tel: +49 711 501-12506 Fax: +49 711 501-13700 Email: birgit.albrecht@mahle.com

News sourc: Bosch Group
Publish date: May 2008