Bosch Automotive Electronics India, a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Bosch Group, inaugurated its manufacturing plant here on Tuesday. The plant will manufacture electronic control units (ECUs) for diesel and petrol fuel injection systems.

Bosch had already invested Rs. 60 crore in this facility and plans an additional investment of Rs. 68 crore and increase employee strength to 300 persons.

Automotive Group Chairman of Bosch Bernd Bohr told reporters that the company was already planning to supply electronic components for Tata Nano and the low-cost car technology developed in India might be used later in Europe. The two R&D centres in Bangalore would be part of developing such technology. "Some of the production in the Indian units is for export to countries like Korea," he said.

Member of the board, Robert Bosch, Germany, Volkmar Denner, said market studies indicated an early revival from the slowdown in India, which was a significant automobile market, expected to grow 7 per cent by next year. "Last year, the Latin American and Asian markets did better than North America and Europe," he said.

Managing Director of Bosch, V. K. Viswanathan, said Bosch in India had a turnover of Rs. 6,500 crore last year with the units in Bangalore contributing Rs. 5,477 crore.

The automotive electronics segment had grown at a CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) of 20 per cent since 2002.

SOURCE : http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/27/stories/2009052755761400.htm