Bosch

History

The company Bosch began operations on November 15, 1886, as a workshop for precision mechanics and electrical engineering in West Stuttgart. Just a year later, Bosch developed a low-voltage magneto for gas engines, marking the start of its innovation journey in the automotive industry. From 1897, Bosch started installing magneto ignition systems in motor vehicles, becoming a leading supplier of ignition systems. In 1902, chief engineer Gottlob Honold introduced the high-voltage magneto ignition system with a spark plug — a crucial invention for the advancement of the automotive sector. In 1901, Bosch opened its first manufacturing plant in Stuttgart. The company rapidly expanded: by 1906, it had produced its 100,000th magneto and introduced the eight-hour workday. In 1910, a new plant was opened in Feuerbach, where the famous Bosch light, a generator and headlight system — entered production in 1914 after its 1913 debut. The growing use of motor vehicles after 1900 led to a rapid increase in demand. Bosch grew from 45 employees in 1901 to over 1,000 by 1908. Global expansion began in 1898 with an office in London, followed by Paris, Vienna, and Budapest, and soon extended across all continents. In the 1920s, Bosch expanded its product line with electric horns (1921), windshield wipers (1926), and turn signals (1927). That same year, it introduced diesel fuel injection systems. In 1932, as part of its diversification strategy, Bosch acquired the gas equipment sector from Junkers & Co. That year, it also launched its first electric drill and introduced its first car radio. In 1933, Bosch unveiled the first electric household refrigerator. In the 2000s, Bosch rolled out innovations such as electro-hydraulic brakes, piezo injection for diesel engines, digital car radios with CD players, and the lithium-ion cordless screwdriver (2003). The company received the German Future Prize from the German President in both 2005 and 2008. In 2021, Bosch made its largest single investment with a $1.2 billion semiconductor factory.