Bosch

What Bosch makes

Bosch is the world's largest automotive supplier by revenue, and the automotive business is one part of a four-sector group. The Mobility sector supplies OEMs through six main operating divisions: Electrified Motion (electric drives and electromobility components), Mobility Electronics (control units, sensors, and semiconductors), Power Solutions (powertrain technology, including hydrogen and combustion), Vehicle Motion (brakes, steering, and occupant safety systems), Cross-Domain Computing Solutions (driver assistance and vehicle computers), and ETAS (vehicle base software, middleware, and cybersecurity). The sector also includes the Mobility Aftermarket business, Bosch eBike Systems, two-wheeler and off-road activities, and engineering and software services. The company says 7 electric motors roll off its production lines every minute and that more than half of new smartphones carry Bosch MEMS sensors.

Outside Mobility, the group runs Industrial Technology (drive and control technology under Bosch Rexroth), Consumer Goods (Power Tools and BSH home appliances), and Energy and Building Technology (building security, heat pumps and heating, and global service operations). For buyers, the practical point is that Bosch sits at the top of the Tier 1 landscape: a hardware, software, and services supplier with 470 plus locations and roughly 500 subsidiaries in some 60 countries.

Financial performance

A 2026 industry study of the top 100 automotive suppliers ranks Bosch first worldwide, with automotive revenue of 55.8 billion euros in fiscal 2025, essentially flat against 55.8 billion euros in 2024 (up 0.1 percent). The automotive EBIT margin was 1.8 percent, down from 3.7 percent a year earlier.

Group-wide, the company reported preliminary 2025 sales of 91.0 billion euros (2024: 90.3 billion), up 4.2 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects, with EBIT from operations of 1.8 billion euros, around 2 percent of sales and below the company's own expectations. Management attributed the result to lower volumes, higher tariffs, and considerable provisions for restructuring. Bosch has pushed its 7 percent target margin from 2026 to 2027 at the earliest. The company employed 412,800 associates worldwide as of December 31, 2025, including 82,100 in research and development, and spent 7.9 billion euros on R&D in 2025.

Ownership and history

Robert Bosch founded the "Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering" in Stuttgart in 1886. 140 years later, Robert Bosch GmbH is still unlisted and structured for independence from capital markets: the charitable Robert Bosch Stiftung holds roughly 94 percent of the share capital (with no influence on business strategy), the Bosch family holds about 5 percent, and roughly 93 percent of voting rights sit with Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG. Headquarters are on the Schillerhoehe campus at Robert-Bosch-Platz 1 in Gerlingen, outside Stuttgart. Dr. Christian Fischer became chairman of the board of management on July 1, 2026, succeeding Dr. Stefan Hartung; Dr. Markus Forschner is deputy chairman and CFO, and Dr. Markus Heyn chairs the Mobility sector.

Certifications and quality

Bosch's Mobility plants operate under IATF 16949 quality management, the sector-standard automotive certification, and the company publishes detailed supplier quality requirements that hold its own supply base to the same framework, including PPAP-style production release procedures. These are the company's own claims; no single group-wide certificate date applies, since certification is held plant by plant across hundreds of manufacturing sites.

Known customers

Bosch supplies most of the world's vehicle manufacturers but, like most large Tier 1s, rarely names customers. Two documented points: the Mercedes-Benz Museum garage in Stuttgart is the world's first site running Bosch's Automated Valet Parking driverless parking service, per the company's own materials, and in January 2026 the company reported orders worth 10 billion euros in software-defined mobility.

Recent news

April 2026, Bosch published an update on its Strategy 2030, saying it will pursue growth through innovation and acquisitions while restoring competitiveness (company announcement).

January 2026, Bosch reported preliminary 2025 figures: sales of 91.0 billion euros, an operating EBIT margin of around 2 percent, below expectations, and a delayed margin target; the company said it does not expect significant market improvement before 2027 (company announcement, widely covered by wire services).

September 2025, Bosch announced plans to cut around 13,000 additional jobs in its German Mobility operations by 2030, citing an annual cost gap of about 2.5 billion euros in the Mobility sector (company statement, covered by Reuters and the BBC).

Frequently asked questions

What does Bosch make?

Bosch makes automotive components and systems across six Mobility divisions: electric drives, control units and sensors, powertrain technology, brakes and steering, driver assistance and vehicle computers, and vehicle software (ETAS). The wider group also makes industrial drive and control technology (Bosch Rexroth), power tools, home appliances (BSH), and energy and building technology.

Who owns Bosch?

Robert Bosch GmbH is unlisted. The charitable Robert Bosch Stiftung holds roughly 94 percent of share capital, the Bosch family about 5 percent, and Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG controls about 93 percent of voting rights. The structure is designed to keep the company independent of capital markets.

What is Bosch's annual revenue?

The Bosch Group reported preliminary sales of 91.0 billion euros for fiscal 2025, with EBIT from operations of 1.8 billion euros, around 2 percent of sales. Automotive-sector revenue was 55.8 billion euros, which makes Bosch the largest automotive supplier in the world per a 2026 industry study.

Where is Bosch headquartered?

Bosch is headquartered at Robert-Bosch-Platz 1 in Gerlingen, Germany, on the Schillerhoehe campus just outside Stuttgart. The group operates roughly 500 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 60 countries, with more than 470 locations worldwide.

Who are Bosch's customers?

Bosch supplies most major vehicle manufacturers worldwide, though it rarely names them. Documented examples include the Mercedes-Benz Museum garage running Bosch Automated Valet Parking, and the company reported 10 billion euros in software-defined mobility orders in January 2026. Its aftermarket business also serves repair shops in over 16,000 Bosch Car Service locations.

Last verified September 22, 2026. Is this your company? Request a correction.