Bosch's Hermann Scholl Turns 70

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., June 22 -- Hermann Scholl, chairman of the supervisory board of the Robert Bosch GmbH and chairman of the shareholders' meeting of Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, celebrated his 70th birthday yesterday.

From 1987 to 1989, Scholl was chairman of Bosch's U.S. operations. During his tenure in the United States, Scholl was instrumental in establishing Bosch's distribution center in Atlanta, the expansion of its research and development center in Farmington Hills, Mich., facilitated the acquisition of Racine Hydraulics (fluid power activities) and accelerated U.S. production of key products, including antilock brake systems, electronic diesel fuel injection and oxygen sensors. In addition, Scholl received an honorary doctorate of engineering from General Motors Institute (today Kettering University) in 1988.

From 1993 on, he very successfully led the Bosch Group as chairman of the board of management until he transitioned to the supervisory board in 2003. Under his leadership, the Bosch Group was able to more than double its sales from just over $20 billion (16.6 billion euros) to more than $45 billion (36.4 billion euros), and during this time the number of associates increased from about 157,000 to nearly 232,000.

"It is an honor to serve with a man of Hermann Scholl's integrity, vision and business insight," said Kurt Liedtke, chairman, president and CEO, Robert Bosch Corporation, and member of the board of management, Robert Bosch GmbH. "His brilliance and leadership inspire us all to continue Bosch's legacy of innovation, quality and excellence."

Scholl energetically drove the globalization of the Bosch Group. Sales outside of Germany increased from 49 percent in 1993 to 71 percent in 2003. In addition, he set the course for important new technologies such as those in the diesel sector, which in recent years has made significant contributions to the growth of the Bosch Group.

"With his enormous engagement, creative ideas and strategic far- sightedness, Hermann Scholl has played a significant role in further developing the Bosch Group," said Franz Fehrenbach, Scholl's successor as chairman of the board of management of the Bosch Group.

Scholl earned his doctorate in engineering from the University of Stuttgart in 1961. In 1993, he received a second honorary doctorate in engineering from the Technical University in Munich and, in 2005, he was awarded the title of Professor from the Minister President of Baden- Wuerttemberg.

The Bosch Group is a leading international manufacturer of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods and building technology. About 242,000 workers achieved sales of $50 billion (40 billion euros) in the year 2004. Founded by Robert Bosch (1861 - 1942) in Stuttgart as "Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electro-technology" in 1886, the present Bosch Group includes a manufacturing, distribution and customer service network with about 260 subsidiaries and more than 10,000 customer service operations in over 130 countries.

In North America, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial automation and mobile products, power tools and accessories, security technology, packaging equipment and household appliances. Bosch employs nearly 23,000 associates in more than 80 primary and 20 associated facilities throughout North America and reported sales of $7.8 billion in 2004. For more information, visit http://www.boschus.com/ .

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