Bosch and Denso increase the development of electronic control technology for environmental protection and energy-saving vehicles

According to Nikkei, with the increasing concern of the global automotive market for environmentally friendly and energy-saving vehicles, Bosch in Germany and Denso in Japan are currently increasing the research and development of electronic control technologies for hybrid and electric vehicles.

Bernd Bohr, Chairman of Bosch Automotive Group, revealed during the Tokyo Motor Show: “Bosch's new R&D center will employ nearly 500 engineers. These engineers will mainly develop electric vehicle parts.”

Bosch currently has a joint venture with South Korea’s Samsung SDI to produce electric vehicle batteries, and will supply lithium batteries to BMW vehicles from 2011. In addition, Bosch may also establish a new battery factory in Europe. In 2009, Bosch provided R&D expenses of US$4.5 billion to its R&D department.

It is reported that in order to increase the research and development of hybrid vehicle parts, Denso plans to expand its R&D team to twice the current level in the next two years. The Denso Group currently has 600 to 700 R&D personnel who are committed to minimizing air conditioning energy consumption through related technologies to achieve improved fuel efficiency.