For most common folks, mention the name “Bosch” and they’ll probably think of things like power tools or a dishwasher. For car guys like you and me, we’d think wipers, aftermarket parts, or if you’re really in the know, car components like the ECU (electronic control unit) and a myriad of other parts.
But Bosch is actually a much larger company than their consumer products would lead you to believe. As the banner on every GT500 car in the Super GT series – which recently held its Round 3 race in Sepang – suggests, Bosch plays a major role in the automotive segment, delivering solutions to everything from motorsports to vehicle development.
In fact, motorsports has been in the Bosch history books from the very first page, from supplying ignition systems in the early race cars, to delivering today’s advanced engine management, hybrid systems, and telemetry solutions across a wide range of race series, including Formula 1 and Super GT.
The relentless pursuit of performance, safety, and innovation for over a century has helped translate its successes on the racetrack, over to everyday mobility solutions. Today, Bosch is the largest automotive supplier in the world, with the automotive business accounting for 60% of its revenue.
Bosch’s work encompasses more than just hardware. Through the Bosch Engineering Group, the company also goes behind the scenes in developing passenger cars and more, working with various carmakers and OEMs to offer solutions for any stage of the development lifecycle.
Thanks to its involvement in a wide range of sectors, many of its technologies have also cross-pollinated across the board. Advancements from commercial applications have transferred into the consumer space, with the main example being the modern advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) tracing its roots back to automation technology from the agriculture and logistics world.
Bosch Engineering Group has recently made its entrance into Malaysia, reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to the country. The Malaysian outfit will head the Bosch Engineering operations in Southeast Asia, working together with over 3,000 engineers globally to deliver advanced engineering expertise and customised solutions to carmakers, OEMs, and even mobility startups – the latter, according to Bosch Engineering Group Japan Managing Director John Plackmann, was one of the key reasons why Malaysia was chosen as its hub for their operations in the region.
Of course, Bosch’s presence in Malaysia extends beyond that – all four of its business sectors have operations here in the country, with three factories in Penang producing everything from power tools to automotive electronics and semiconductors, the latter especially important for the software-defined vehicle era of the future.
Bosch Engineering Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Persona Energy during the recent Super GT Malaysia Festival to launch TTAP Bosch Xcelerator, a motorsports-focused Technology Transfer Apprenticeship Programme aimed at accelerating the deveopment of engineering talent in the region for high-performance racing environments.
“Our partnership with Persona Energy underscores Bosch’s long-term commitment to Malaysia—not only in advancing future mobility solutions, but also in nurturing local talent with the skills and experience needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving automotive landscape,” Plackmann said.
