• Joint venture planned to start in September 2008
• Company to be headquartered in Korea

Stuttgart – Robert Bosch GmbH and the Korean company Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. have decided to set up a joint venture to develop, manufacture, and sell lithium-ion batteries. It is planned that the joint venture, which is to be named “SB LiMotive Co. Ltd.” and to be headquartered in Korea, will start operations in September 2008. The shareholding of Robert Bosch GmbH will be 50 percent and that of Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. 50 percent – both companies will be equally represented on the board of management and on the board of directors. The foundation of the joint venture is still subject to approval by antitrust authorities.

The companies plan to collaborate in the development, manufacture, and worldwide sale of lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications. Lithium-ion batteries are the basis for forward-looking technologies in the automobile, such as hybrid or electrical drives. In connection with its hybrid project unit, Bosch has already built up comprehensive expertise in areas such as power electronics, battery management, electric motors, transmissions, or DC/DC converters. The main focus of Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. is the further development of lithium-ion batteries, which it already produces for a large number of manufacturers of laptops, mobile phones, and power tools. In 2007 Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. has produced 376 million battery cells. Today, Samsung has an internationally leading position in lithium-ion battery cell technology.

For further information on the planned public takeover offer, see

http://angebot.bosch.com .

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 Technology, Industrial Technology and Consumer Goods and Building Technology. The company operates 37 legal entities 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

For further details please contact:

Ms. Helen He Bosch(China) Investment Ltd. Tel: +86-21-2898 1111 Email: helen.he@cn.bosch.com

News sourc: Bosch China
Publish date: June 2008