Bosch maintained stable growth of 2.6% in sales in Romania

Bosch, a leading global supplier of technology and services, ended fiscal year 2024 with consolidated sales of RON 2.6 billion (EUR 529.5 million) in Romania, an increase of 2.6% despite difficult market conditions. Total net sales of RON 11.9 billion (EUR 2.4 billion) in Romania, including sales of non-consolidated companies and internal deliveries to affiliated companies, remained at a similar level to the previous year.   “In fiscal year 2024, Bosch delivered a solid performance in Romania despite a challenging economic and political environment, pursuing a strategy focused on technology, sustainability, and innovation in all its operations in the country: production, research and development, sales, and services,” said Mihai Boldijar, general manager of Robert Bosch S.R.L. and representative of the Bosch Group in Romania.   In 2024, Bosch celebrated 30 years of continuous and successful presence on the local market. “Today, Bosch in Romania is a key player in Romanian industry, given its use of cutting-edge technologies, but also a top employer and a trusted partner for the education system and local communities through its corporate social responsibility activities and its own foundation, established five years ago,” added Boldijar.   The number of Bosch employees in Romania reached 10,320 on December 31, 2024, a slight decrease (1.9 percent) compared to the previous year. Bosch invested approximately RON 246 million (EUR 50 million) in Romania in 2024, mainly in the development of its factories in Cluj and Blaj, as well as in R&D.   “To capitalize on the long-term potential, Bosch will continue to develop local expertise in Romania, with a focus on innovation and sustainability,” added Boldijar.   In the first quarter of 2025, Bosch managed to increase its annual sales by 4 percent globally. The company also had a good start in Romania in 2025, with a slight increase in sales compared to 2024. However, for the current fiscal year, Bosch continues to anticipate only moderate global economic growth of 2 to 2.5 percent and estimates that the global economy will not begin to pick up until 2026. In Romania, Bosch expects modest growth for 2025 due to the challenging market environment.   “Although we expect a difficult year in Romania as well due to the current situation, Bosch continues to manage the turbulence in the automotive industry in recent years and remains committed to the local market,” Boldijar continued.   The Bosch production facilities in Blaj and Cluj continued their commitment to quality, efficiency, and sustainability in 2024. The production facilities in Blaj made significant progress in reducing energy consumption, saving 1,042 MWh, and managed to double green energy production compared to the previous year by expanding the photovoltaic system on the roofs of two additional buildings, thus generating 641 MWh. In addition, the Bosch plant in Blaj continued to expand its production capacity in 2024 by expanding the machinery in the Industrial Technology division and optimizing the lines for third-generation NOX gas sensors.   Starting in 2025, the Industrial Technology division’s activities will be managed by the new legal entity Bosch Rexroth S.R.L., while Bosch Automotive S.R.L. will continue production for the automotive sector. This transition will enable Bosch Rexroth to operate more efficiently in the Romanian market.   In addition, the Blaj facility is involved in educational projects such as the Qualification Center, where employees obtain certificates issued by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labor. The dual school program also includes a new specialization, that of assembly operator, and the partnership with the 1 Decembrie 1918 University in Alba Iulia continues through the dual university program, which is essential for the region’s labor market.   In addition, the Bosch plant in Cluj, which has been producing high-quality electronic control units for increased traffic safety and driving comfort since 2013, has delivered more than 500 million electronic control units to its international customers. Focusing on energy efficiency, the solar panels at the Cluj plant generated 5,660 MWh in 2024, representing approximately 11 percent of total electricity demand and contributing to an annual reduction in energy consumption of 4,672 MWh, in combination with a heat pump installed in 2021. In addition, a modern waste management system ensures efficient sorting of waste streams, optimizing both logistics and employee workflow.   Meanwhile, the factory continues to integrate state-of-the-art automation solutions, including robots and co-robots, to increase production efficiency and support a digitalized and sustainable future.   In addition, the Bosch factory in Cluj is a pioneer in dual education in Romania. Since its launch in 2014, more than 500 students have benefited from the program, with an average retention rate of 85 percent. Furthermore, the Bright Students @ Bosch pilot program, inspired by dual education models abroad and developed in partnership with the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, will see its first class of graduates specializing in engineering and Industry 4.0 with advanced expertise this year.   The Bosch Engineering Center in Cluj, established in 2013, plays an important role in the ongoing transformation of the mobility sector. Using its expertise in software, hardware, mechanical engineering, reliability, and sales planning, the center contributes significantly to the development of cutting-edge products and services that use artificial intelligence (AI) in automated driving, electric mobility, and connected mobility solutions. With a workforce of around 1,700 employees, the center is a key element of Bosch’s intellectual property portfolio, generating more than 100 inventions annually.   Recent key achievements include the transformation of competencies in data-driven engineering, increased responsibility in data-driven engineering applications, and visible improvements in efficiency and products through the integration of AI. In 2024, the Bosch Engineering Center in Cluj inaugurated its second modern office building in Cluj-Napoca, an investment that underscores Bosch’s long-term commitment to Romania. As part of this commitment, the center has developed three master’s programs and four university courses in collaboration with the Technical University and Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca.   In 2024, Bosch continued to strengthen the strategic role of its Business and Technology Center in Timisoara, providing top-notch services to the Bosch Group and external customers. Through continuous investment in technology, people, and local partnerships, the center, which operates through two legal entities: Bosch Service Solutions SRL and Bosch Global Business Services SRL, actively contributes to achieving global goals in digitalization and operational excellence.   Bosch Service Solutions focuses on intelligent process automation through the integration of AI and digital workflow technologies. The division pursues two main directions: optimizing software services for automation and efficiency, and developing its own products tailored to market needs. These innovations increase operational performance and improve the user experience.   In addition, Bosch Global Business Services in Timisoara, Bosch’s largest service center worldwide, made a significant contribution to the division’s 8 percent growth. In 2024, the division continued to build on its operational capabilities and introduced new business lines such as Corporate Finance, Reporting, and Treasury. The division in Timisoara boasts a customer satisfaction rating of 4.6 out of 5. In addition, Bosch Global Business Services entered into a strategic partnership with the West University of Timisoara in 2025, which aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry by promoting digitalization and artificial intelligence.   In the Mobility business sector, the Mobility Aftermarket division once again recorded double-digit growth in Romania in 2024. Key success factors include the strengthening of business relationships with strategic distributors, as well as technical training courses and management programs for car service centers. Bosch automotive parts are appreciated by many companies in the eXtra loyalty program (extra-premii.ro), in which car service centers and parts stores can earn incentive rewards.   The Bosch Car Service network, with over 80 car service centers in Romania, is highly regarded for the professionalism of its technicians, who are trained to use the latest automotive technologies.   In the Building Technology and Energy sector, Bosch Home Comfort in Romania achieved growth of over 70 percent compared to 2023, despite uncertain conditions in the HVAC market and extremely competitive business in the project sector. Growth factors included industrial heating solutions provided to several municipalities across the country, development in the field of cooling systems, and steady progress in natural gas-based solutions, the most challenging sector of the heating market.   In the Consumer Goods sector, the Bosch Power Tools division recorded moderate sales growth in 2024. The division continued to respond to customer needs by launching new products, such as Bosch professional power tools for gardening and hand tools. The division also launched its official online store www.bosch-shop.ro last year, dedicated to professional power tools for home and garden, measuring tools, and accessories.   In 2025, the Bosch Power Tools division intends to strengthen its market position by launching new products and innovations, particularly in the Bosch Professional power tools and measuring devices segments.   One example is the new “Bosch Electrical Testing” range of measuring and testing devices for electricians. In addition, BSH Home Appliances, which has sold over 7.5 million home appliances on the Romanian market since 1999, maintained its leading position in key categories in 2024 thanks to the superior quality of its products, with a focus on digitalization and connectivity through Home Connect.   The global #LikeABosch campaign continued, promoting technologies that motivate users. In 2025, BSH will launch new products focused on time savings and energy efficiency, including the Green Collection refrigerator-freezer made from sustainable materials, gas cooktops with precise flame control, air fryers, and robot vacuum cleaners.   In the Industrial Technology sector, the Bosch Rexroth sales division ended fiscal year 2024 with results similar to those of the previous year, recording very good development in industrial hydraulics. Together with its certified partners, the division helps reduce operating costs for end users by offering high-quality products in the fields of industrial hydraulics, mobile hydraulic applications, linear motion technology, electric drives and controls, and assembly technology. Bosch Group: outlook and strategic direction for 2025   The Bosch Group is continuing its ambitious 2030 strategy to strengthen its competitive position, even though the market environment significantly slowed growth last year:   With sales of EUR 90.3 billion, the technology and service provider generated sales revenue in 2024 that was 1.4 percent lower than in the previous year, or 0.5 percent lower after adjusting for currency effects. The EBIT margin from operations was 3.5 percent.   “In fiscal 2024, we made significant improvements in terms of costs, structures, and portfolio,” said Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH. With a normal inflation rate of between 2 and 3 percent, Bosch aims to achieve average annual growth of between 6 and 8 percent by 2030. In the first quarter of the year, Bosch increased its sales revenue by 4 percent compared to the previous year. The Bosch Group continues to pursue a target margin of 7 percent for 2026 and considers this to be an extremely challenging task given the current challenges. To maintain its success in the face of constantly changing markets and technologies, Bosch will continue to intensively address costs and structures and focus on profitable business areas. “As a global technology leader, we are fully committed to boldly leveraging our strengths, such as our high level of innovation,” Hartung said.   The company also sees its collaboration with startups as a major growth driver. As one of Europe’s largest corporate venture capital investors, the Bosch Group has announced a new venture capital fund: its subsidiary Bosch Ventures is investing around EUR 250 million. Bosch expects developments in its core business of mobility, particularly in the areas of electromobility, hydrogen, and software-defined vehicles, to be a major growth driver. In the Consumer Goods division, Bosch sees significant growth opportunities arising from new customer requirements.   In power tools, the focus is on expanding the range of cordless tools, and BSH Hausgeräte is launching a refrigerator-freezer this year that is the first home appliance on the market to be Matter-compatible. In the Industrial Technology division, Bosch expects order intake to stabilize and continues to pursue its goal of generating sales revenue of around EUR 1 billion by the beginning of the next decade with software and digital services such as the Hydraulic Hub.   In addition, factory automation will focus on growth areas such as battery production, semiconductors, and consumer goods. In the Building and Energy Technology division, Bosch expects the planned acquisition of the Johnson Controls and Hitachi heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) business to deliver significant growth. Despite all the global turbulence, climate action remains a central concern for Bosch.