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Bosch Reports Automotive Sales Growth in 1999

7 March 2000

Bosch Reports Automotive Sales Growth in 1999

    DETROIT, March 7 Robert Bosch Corp., North American total
automotive sales rose by more than eight percent in 1999, from $3.9 billion to
$4.2 billion.  Overall, Bosch North American total sales, including automotive
and non-automotive operations, rose from $5.5 billion in 1998 to $5.9 billion
last year.  Bosch's 1999 net sales figures include joint venture operations in
North America.  Robert Bosch Corp.'s automotive OEM operations consist of
20 technical and manufacturing facilities in North America.

    Bosch Group Continues Worldwide Growth
    The Bosch Group's total automotive sales in 1999 increased to
$19.1 billion.  Growth in this area is attributed to the increasing importance
of navigation systems, engine management and injection technology and
electronic stability program (ESP).
    Worldwide, automotive and non-automotive sales for the Bosch Group rose
approximately seven percent to $29.4 billion.
    Bosch's share in the Japanese supplier Zexel rose from 30 percent to
50.04 percent in April 1999.  Regional activities in fuel injection for diesel
and gasoline engines at Zexel and the automotive brake system business were
grouped under a new company, Bosch Braking Systems.  This joint affiliate of
Bosch and Zexel had sales of approximately $2.2 billion, which were not
consolidated in 1999.
    The number of Bosch associates rose by approximately 5,500 worldwide, from
189,500 at the beginning of 1999 to 195,000 at the beginning of 2000.
    Bosch's innovative resources were strengthened in 1999 with an increase of
research and development to seven percent of sales or $2 billion.  The
automotive equipment sector accounted for more than two thirds of this
expenditure.  The company also invested approximately $2 billion in fixed
assets in 1999, with investments outside Germany accounting for 53 percent of
this figure.
    Bosch designs and produces precision automotive components and systems
sold to vehicle and powertrain manufacturers in the U.S. and abroad.  These
include systems and components for gasoline and diesel injection, airbag
components, ABS and conventional brake systems, as well as small motors,
electrical equipment and electronics.
    Robert Bosch Corporation is the wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Robert
Bosch GmbH, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.