The 2024 business year: Bosch held back by market developments

Yahoo

31-01-2025

Greater pressure on costs – progress made on Strategy 2030
Stuttgart, Germany, Jan. 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Business developments in 2024: sales revenue of 90.5 billion euros / EBIT margin from operations of 3.5 percent
Strategy 2030: portfolio management to secure competitiveness.
North America posts around six percent increase; focus on growth in U.S.
AI boosts core business: software and services to generate sales worth billions by 2030.
Growth: climate change as focus of innovations.
Economic policy: market liberalization and more investment for a strong Europe.
Stefan Hartung: 'Our technologies for the mobility and homes of the future remain key growth areas.'
Markus Forschner: 'Our aim for the 2025 fiscal year is to improve our sales revenue and result even if conditions are tough.'
Bosch, the supplier of technology and services, generated sales revenue of 90.5 billion euros in 2024, according to preliminary figures[1]. In nominal terms, this is a 1 percent year-on-year fall, and roughly on a par with the previous year when adjusted for exchange-rate effects. This equates to an EBIT margin from operations of 3.5 percent. 'Despite our best efforts, Bosch, too, was not completely immune to economic developments, but we made a respectable showing compared to our industry peers,' said Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, referring to the company's published preliminary business figures. 'Our technologies for the mobility and homes of the future remain key growth areas for us.' He pointed to efforts to strengthen competitiveness and growth in the 2024 fiscal year through strategic portfolio decisions involving both acquisitions and divestments. And, he added, the company also had to make certain structural adjustments.
In addition to the weak growth of the global economy, the Bosch Group's business development was adversely affected by the fact that growth markets such as electromobility developed much more slowly than expected. A lack of sales in these areas and the accompanying underutilized capacity, as well as continued high upfront expenditure for future technologies and provisions for necessary strategic adjustments, had a negative impact on result. Despite all the challenges, Bosch continues to rigorously pursue its ambitious business goals: by 2030, the company aims to be among the leading suppliers in its areas of business in key markets. Moreover, the company is striving for average annual growth of between 6 and 8 percent, with a margin of at least 7 percent.
Growth strategy: portfolio management for greater business opportunitiesIn the past fiscal year, Bosch systematically implemented its Strategy 2030 and reached important milestones. One of these is the planned acquisition of the HVAC business of Johnson Controls and Hitachi, a deal worth around 8 billion U.S. dollars. By purchasing this business, Bosch intends to expand its presence in growth markets such as the U.S. and Asia. 'Despite the current headwinds, we're rigorously pursuing our growth strategy and will continue to resolutely drive forward technologies crucial for tomorrow's world,' Hartung said. With the successful sale of large parts of its Building Technologies division's product business for security and communications technology, Bosch will focus on the systems integration business in the future and continue to grow. With these moves, the company aims to achieve a better balance among its business sectors, improve its robustness, and make its portfolio viable for the future.
Focused on growth in United States
In North America, Bosch ended its 2024 fiscal year with $17.4 billion (16 billion euros) in consolidated sales, which represents a growth of around six percent compared to the previous year. The North American region achieved preliminary total net sales of $18.7 billion USD including sales of non-consolidated companies and internal deliveries to affiliated companies.
'North America and the United States specifically is an important growth market for Bosch,' said Paul Thomas, president of Bosch in North America. 'Our team here is working to seize growth opportunities, which is evident in the positive preliminary results for 2024 despite continued economic headwinds.'
The Mobility business achieved $10.7 billion USD (9.9 billion euros) in 2024, a five percent increase from 2023. The company continues to invest in and book customer wins related to technologies supporting regional needs such as trucks/SUVs and hybrid technology. It continues to progress on plans to manufacture the second generation silicon carbide chips on 200mm wafers in Roseville, California in 2026.
In the Consumer Goods business sector, the North American region achieved $3.4 billion USD (3.1 billion euros) which was a three percent increase. The company has planning multiple new product launches in the power tools and home appliances categories tailored to the U.S. market. It also announced plans to advertise for the first time at the Big Game in the U.S., which kicks off a multi-year brand campaign focused on the Power Tools and Home Appliance businesses.
'The campaign we will launch this year is focused on supporting sales growth in the United States and will contribute to our company's overall future global success,' Paul Thomas said.
In Energy and Building Technology, preliminary results in North America showed $1.9 billion USD (1.8 billion euros), a 46 percent increase from 2023. In 2024, the company announced plans to acquire the HVAC solutions business for residential and light commercial buildings from Johnson Controls, which includes a strong presence in North America. The proposed acquisition is expected to close during 2025.
For the Industrial Technology business sector, the company posted $1.4 billion USD (1.3 billion euros) in North America in 2024, a 12 percent decrease YoY.
Technologies of the future: innovation creating solutions 'Invented for life'To achieve its growth targets, Bosch is driving innovation in areas of future importance. 'Electromobility, hydrogen, and sustainable technologies remain a growth business and the focus of our innovations,' said Hartung, referring to the ongoing challenge of climate change. He gave the example of a cryogenic pump that Bosch is currently testing in the U.S., which compresses up to 600 kilograms of liquid hydrogen per hour. In just 10 minutes, such a pump will allow trucks to fill up with enough hydrogen for the next 1,000 kilometers. Bosch is also leading the way in home appliances. Just a few weeks from now, it will debut an energy-efficient built-in XXL fridge-freezer which will be the world's first home appliance capable of manufacturer-independent connectivity via the new Matter standard. Around 5,000 AI experts at Bosch are working on making AI suitable for everyday use, such as a new AI-assisted emergency call service that allows elevator users to request help in their native language via simultaneous translation, but doesn't require the retrofitting of elevators. Digital solutions: artificial intelligence boosting core businessIntelligent software and digital services have now become an important pillar for Bosch's core business. 'We're increasingly using AI in our own processes, improving quality and productivity in both our plants and our offices,' Hartung said. 'AI has also become an integral part of our products and solutions.' Bosch expects to generate sales of more than 6 billion euros with software and services by the beginning of the next decade, two-thirds of this in the Mobility business sector. 'At Bosch, AI has been playing an important role in assisted and automated driving for years now,' Hartung said. 'But it's not only in AI that we're taking software-defined mobility forward, and this makes Bosch an ideal partner for the world's major tech players.' One example is the system solution Vehicle Motion Management. Among other things, this enables brake-by-wire braking systems, in which an electronic brake pedal operates without a mechanical connection.
Economic policy: competitiveness for a strong EuropeBosch is looking to new policy frameworks in Germany and the EU to stimulate growth. According to Hartung, action is needed to strengthen their competitiveness and attractiveness as places to do business. 'A strong EU consists of fewer regulations and more investment as well as fewer barriers and more market liberalization,' he said. With a view to energy prices, bureaucracy, and a lack of investment in infrastructure in Germany, the company's home market, Hartung hopes to see a quick move from talk to action after the country's upcoming elections. 'Anything that makes doing business easier is a step in the right direction,' he said. 'Then Germany and Europe can be among the world's economic and technological frontrunners in the future as well.' As before, Bosch wants to do its part here: in the coming year, roughly 40 percent of the company's global investments will continue to go to its German locations.
Business developments in 2024: market developments affecting business sectors' salesThe sales figures for Bosch's business sectors clearly reflect the general market trend. 'Overall, 2024 was an outlier, with all our focus markets performing poorly at the same time,' said Markus Forschner, member of the board of management and chief financial officer of Robert Bosch GmbH. With sales revenue of 55.9 billion euros, the Mobility business sector roughly reached the previous year's level. Despite the declining market, sales revenue remained virtually unchanged after adjusting for exchange-rate effects. In the Industrial Technology business sector, sales revenue reached 6.5 billion euros, which is 13 percent less than in the previous year in nominal terms, or minus 12 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects. The weak mechanical engineering sector hit the main markets of Europe, China, and the U.S. particularly hard. In the Consumer Goods business sector, sales revenue grew a nominal 2 percent to 20.3 billion euros. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, this was in fact 3 percent higher than in the previous year. This means that Bosch is again growing in the consumer goods business – for the first time since the drop in demand at the end of the coronavirus pandemic. Sales revenue in the Energy and Building Technology business sector amounted to 7.5 billion euros. This corresponds to a decline of 3 percent, both in nominal terms and after adjusting for exchange-rate effects. This was mainly due to the gloomy sentiment in the European heating market.
Business developments in 2024: subdued regional sales developmentIn addition to market developments, the economic situation impacted the regional development of sales revenue to varying degrees. 'Our European business was particularly affected by the economic situation,' Forschner explained. Sales revenue in Europe totaled 44.5 billion euros, which represents a year-on-year decrease of 5 percent in nominal terms and after adjusting for exchange-rate effects. Developments in North America and China meant that sales revenue growth in the Americas and Asia Pacific was also on the subdued side. In North America, sales revenue grew by 5 percent to 16 billion euros. Sales revenue in South America totaled 1.8 billion euros. This is a nominal increase of 6 percent, or an exchange rate-adjusted 12 percent. In Asia Pacific, sales revenue grew to 28.1 billion euros. Nominal growth was 1 percent, or 3 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects.
Headcount development in 2024: reduced personnel requirements becoming apparentAs of December 31, 2024, the Bosch Group employed some 417,900 associates worldwide – this is nearly 3 percent lower than the previous year (-11,500). Significant regional changes were seen in Europe and Asia. In Germany as well, headcount fell by around 3 percent (-4,400) to just over 129,800.
Outlook for 2025: weak economy to put greater pressure on costsIn the current year as well, the Bosch Group expects a highly challenging environment. 'Worldwide, we anticipate that growth will remain only moderate,' Forschner said. 'We don't expect the global economy to pick up again before 2026.' As things stand, Bosch assumes that the economy will grow by just 2½ percent in 2025. To implement its growth strategy, the company remains focused on its financial targets. 'Even in the face of persistently adverse conditions, we want to further improve our sales and result in the 2025 fiscal year,' Forschner said. In his view, only profitable growth will enable the company to continue its strong and meaningful development. Accordingly, Bosch aims to achieve its target margin of 7 percent by 2026. The objective is to further increase competitiveness at all levels – from attractive products and acceptable costs to suitable structures for a forward-looking portfolio. 'Sensible savings and focused investments ensure that we have the necessary room for maneuver,' Forschner said. But he cautioned that this will not be easy. Such a plan will require great effort, and does not rule out painful decisions.
Press photographs and infocharts are available on the Bosch Media Service at www.bosch-press.com.
About Bosch
Having established a presence in North America in 1906, today the Bosch Group employs more than 41,000 associates in more than 100 locations in the North American region (as of Dec. 31, 2024). According to preliminary figures, Bosch generated consolidated sales of $17.4 billion in the U.S., Mexico and Canada in 2023. For more information visit www.bosch.us, www.bosch.mx and www.bosch.ca.
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 417,900 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2024). According to preliminary figures, the company generated sales of 90.5 billion euros in 2024. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. With its business activities, the company aims to use technology to help shape universal trends such as automation, electrification, digitalization, connectivity, and an orientation to sustainability. In this context, Bosch's broad diversification across regions and industries strengthens its innovativeness and robustness. Bosch uses its proven expertise in sensor technology, software, and services to offer customers cross-domain solutions from a single source. It also applies its expertise in connectivity and artificial intelligence in order to develop and manufacture user-friendly, sustainable products. With technology that is 'Invented for life,' Bosch wants to help improve quality of life and conserve natural resources. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 470 subsidiary and regional companies in over 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch's global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. Bosch's innovative strength is key to the company's further development. At 136 locations across the globe, Bosch employs some 86,900 associates in research and development, of which nearly 48,000 are software engineers.
The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861–1942) as 'Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.' The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant upfront investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-four percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The remaining shares are held by Robert Bosch GmbH and by a corporation owned by the Bosch family. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG. It is entrusted with the task of safeguarding the company's long-term existence and in particular its financial independence – in line with the mission handed down in the will of the company's founder, Robert Bosch.
Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.iot.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com.
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.0823
[1] Rounded figures, may differ from figures published in the subsequent consolidated financial statements.
Attachment
2024 Bosch Preliminary Business Results Press Release
CONTACT: Tim Wieland Bosch 2488767708 [e-mail] in to access your portfolio