INTELLIGENT MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
Bosch positioning itself as software company for mobility , to make software-defined vehicle a reality
S oftware is the future of mobility . Bosch expects sales of 3 billion euros in 2026 from computers for driver assistance and infotainment alone . Overall , business developments for Bosch are positive , even though the environment remains volatile and challenging . In the mobility business sector , sales are expected to grow by 10 % in 2023 , after adjusting for exchange-rate effects . This growth includes price effects , but also marked volume increases .
As part of this effort , the company is reorganising its mobility business sector effective January 1 , 2024 . This will strengthen crossdivisional collaboration . Bosch employs 38,000 software developers in its mobility operations alone – more than any other company in the automotive industry .
“ In the software-defined future of mobility , it is not only hardware that will be vital , but the interaction of software from various sources as well ,” Hartung continued . More than ever , Bosch is also positioning itself as a software company for mobility , while at the same time further developing its hardware expertise .
Software-defined vehicles call for a new , centralised IT and electronic architecture . Bosch is one of the few companies that is developing this architecture and that knows how to control the interaction between automotive electronics and the cloud . The company offers hardware-agnostic software that runs on chips made by different manufacturers .
One result of this is special middleware for driver assistance and automated driving systems , which also helps decouple software and hardware . Vehicles in which software is the starting point of design and development can give drivers a personalised , digital driving experience . New functions in areas such as driver assistance can be added to the car over the air via software updates .
“ We have gotten used to constant updates on our smart devices . Cars , too , should be able to receive new functions at any time , regardless of any facelifts or model changes . With Bosch solutions for automotive software , cars will be capable of more ,” said Dr Markus
Heyn , Member of the Board of Management and Chairperson of the Mobility business sector .
Software is the key to further enhancing convenience and sustainability . In electric cars , for example , software facilitates connected energy and thermal management , thus reducing battery charging time by up to 20 %.
The electromobility business is developing well for Bosch . The company is on track to achieve sales of 6 billion euros in 2026 . Even last year , Bosch was able to increase its output of components for electric cars by some 50 %. In 2023 , production of electric motors alone will double .
Bosch software plays a key role in the wider electromobility industry as well ; for example , in automated battery recycling systems . Not only is software able to identify the origin and condition of batteries , but by guiding users through process steps , it also enables quick and safe disassembly of battery packs . •
56 56 www . intelligenttechchannels . com