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Bosch's Dedication to Automotive Electronics Spans 100 Years


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FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Oct. 18, 2006 -- For the past 100 years, Robert Bosch Corporation has been a leader in automotive electronics in the United States. Starting with the 1906 sale of the magneto, an ignition device based on Robert Bosch's patented design, to the latest developments in semiconductors and sensors shown at this week's Convergence 2006, Bosch has developed a rich history of innovative automotive electronics.

In the U.S., mass production of the magneto, which revolutionized the automotive industry, began in 1907. In 1913 Bosch developed the first complete automotive electrical system, comprised of a magneto ignition with spark plugs, starter, generator, lighting system and regulator. Since then, the company had developed many automotive electronic innovations, including electronic stability control (ESC), adaptive cruise control (ACC) and a night view system based on near infrared (NIR) technology.

"Bosch has been and continues to be an innovator of automotive electronics," said David Robinson, president, automotive electrical and electronics division, Robert Bosch Corporation. "Over the years, Bosch electronic technology has been used in the development of brake, engine management and driver convenience systems."

A Century of Automotive Electronics Innovation

Throughout the past 100 years, Bosch has developed and integrated many revolutionary automotive electronics technologies, including:

   * Antilock Braking System (ABS) prevents wheel lock-up allowing vehicles
     to remain steerable on wet or slippery roads.  In 1985, Bosch ABS
     debuts in the U.S.
   * Electronic diesel control (EDC), which controls the fuel injection
     quantity and timing, was introduced worldwide in 1986.
   * Adaptive cruise control (ACC), which relies on radar sensors to
     identify and maintain an appropriate driving distance between vehicles,
     made its U.S. debut in 2002.
   * Night View System appears on the 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.  The
     system has a range of approximately 150 meters and provides drivers
     with a precise picture of the road ahead, up to three times further
     than traditional low-beam headlamps.

  Future Bright for Vehicle Electronics

Today, Bosch is developing advanced systems which utilize data shared between many of these components, giving rise to a collection of safety functions known as Combined Active and Passive Safety, or CAPS. In one example of CAPS, radar-based ACC alerts the ESC system to the possibility of a frontal crash, setting in motion a series of functions which will prefill the brake system, provide the driver with a collision warning and even support autonomous emergency braking if the collision is no longer avoidable. Similarly, the ESC system can share data with the airbag system, alerting it to the possibility of a side crash or rollover. This allows earlier deployment of side airbags and head curtains, greatly increasing their protective effects.

"Bosch is strongly positioned to advance automotive safety," says Rob Lyons, manager of CAPS for North America. "Bosch is creating new functionality on top of technologies such as ESC, side airbags and rollover sensing. Integration of Driver Assistance systems such as ACC and Lane Departure Warning will take occupant protection to an even higher level."

The Bosch Group is a leading global manufacturer of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology. In fiscal 2005, approximately 251,000 associates generated sales of 41.5 billion euros, or $51.7 billion USD. Set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as "Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering," the Bosch Group today comprises a manufacturing, sales, and after-sales service network of approximately 280 subsidiaries and more than 12,000 service centers in over 140 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, thermo-technology, packaging equipment and household appliances. Bosch employs 22,700 associates in more than 80 primary and 20 associated facilities throughout the region with reported sales of $8.4 billion in 2005. This year marks Bosch's 100th year of operating in the U.S. For more information on the company and the Centennial, visit http://www.bosch.us/ .