TECH NEWS – Bosch has introduced a new product portfolio for driver assistance and automated driving. The global technology company now offers software and hardware solutions for manufacturers that are easily adaptable to the specific market expectations and can be customized to customer needs – including for Chinese carmakers.

Bosch is a leader in software-based mobility: it has unveiled a comprehensive product portfolio offering customizable software and hardware solutions for manufacturers in the Chinese market as well. In 2023, more than 65 percent of Bosch’s new mobility orders in China came from the two key areas shaping the future – electric powertrains and software-based mobility. Its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), latest AI cockpit, brake-by-wire, steer-by-wire, e-Axle, and fuel cell powertrains are all setting the pace for the future of driving. The company has already reached agreements with several Chinese car brands for its innovative automotive solutions, with many of these products expected to enter production later this year. Stefan Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch GmbH, said: “Bosch is developing intensively in China and successfully introducing its innovations to the market. This is especially true in the areas of infotainment, driver assistance systems, and electromobility.”

Strategic Successes in China

As a key automotive market, China is already approaching mobility from a distinctly software-based perspective. Bosch is moving in a similar direction: the company is a technology leader in software-based mobility. Last year, Bosch’s mobility division in China increased its revenue by 4 percent to around 15 billion euros, accounting for more than 80 percent of Bosch’s total sales in the country. Looking ahead, Bosch has positive prospects, as more than 65 percent of its new orders in China were focused on the future’s two key areas: electric powertrains and software-based vehicles. “Bosch is developing intensively in China and successfully introducing its innovations to the market. This is especially true in the areas of infotainment, driver assistance systems, and electromobility,” emphasized Stefan Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch GmbH.

Talk to It: AI Cockpit from Bosch – A New Era for Driving

The most modern software-based vehicles rely on fewer but more powerful onboard computers. Bosch has received orders for such high-performance onboard computers in China, to be used in vehicles with an AI-based interface (AI cockpit). The system’s uniqueness lies in the fact that drivers can communicate with their vehicle as naturally as if they were speaking with a person. Production of Bosch’s AI cockpit solutions is set to begin later this year.

Bosch’s new portfolio for software-based vehicles also extends to a flexible module system for driver assistance functions. Its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) product line is available worldwide for manufacturers, offering the opportunity for these technologies to appear even faster and more cost-effectively in series production.

Bosch’s ADAS product line for mid-range and premium vehicles has already been ordered by half a dozen Chinese customers, including BAIC, Dongfeng, and Jetour. Automakers can choose from three pre-configured variants of the Bosch ADAS product line, which can then be quickly integrated into their production models. These solutions cover all market segments, from entry-level to premium vehicles. Artificial intelligence is present in every element of Bosch’s new ADAS product line. The system uses AI to interpret environments and traffic situations and for route planning. The vehicle “thinks ahead,” considering possible reactions of other road users. Some versions of the new ADAS handle city traffic, roundabouts, and even – where legally permitted – hands-free driving in urban environments, with 360-degree camera systems and outstanding computing capacity.

Brake-by-Wire, Steer-by-Wire: Innovative Bosch Solutions in China

The future of software-based mobility also demands new hardware approaches. In Bosch’s latest innovative electronic braking system (brake-by-wire), redundant signal cables electronically transmit the driver’s braking commands, eliminating the need for any mechanical connection between the brake pedal and the braking components. In addition to hydraulic versions, a purely electromechanical brake system is also being developed.

Software-based mobility is also reshaping steering: electronic steering (steer-by-wire) replaces the mechanical connection between the steering column and the steering gear with electrical wiring. Bosch’s joint venture, Bosch Huayu Steering Systems, has already signed agreements with three Chinese automakers to use its new steer-by-wire solution, with plans to start production later this year.

Growing Demand for Fuel Cell Propulsion in the Far East

Bosch’s electric axle (e-Axle), which integrates the electric motor, power electronics, and transmission in a single unit, has proven particularly popular in China. Moreover, there is growing demand in the commercial vehicle sector for Bosch’s mobile fuel cell powertrains, with the company already delivering thousands of hydrogen-based modules in China to customers.

Source: Bosch press release