Bosch Sees Growth In Two Wheeler Segment; Shares Future Plans

Bosch is one of the most well-known automotive component manufacturers in the world, and the German company has seen enormous growth in the Indian market too. Almost every single vehicle in India would be using at the very least, one component or device manufactured by Bosch.

At an event held in New Delhi, Bosch announced that its Two-Wheeler and Powersports Business Unit has seen tremendous growth and also announced upcoming technologies and advancements in the field.

The vision according to Bosch is to make the future of mobility accident-free, stress-free and nearly emissions-free. The global demand for two-wheelers is expected to grow by more than 4 percent between 2017 and 2022, reaching 122 million motorcycles by the end of the period. The Indian two-wheeler market is expected to contribute majorly to this global figure and Bosch is hoping to tap into this growth.

Geoff Liersch, head of Two-Wheeler & Powersports Business Unit for Bosch was quoted as saying, "The two-wheeler landscape today is undergoing many changes as industry players look to innovate their service offerings. As a key player in the two-wheeler space, Bosch has always endeavoured to provide services that integrate cutting-edge technology with the company's inherent focus on functionality and efficiency."

Bosch has been a major player in the field of motorcycle safety and the company is continuing to innovate in the same field. The government of India has recognised that nearly 34 percent of road fatalities in India are two-wheeler riders and has therefore implemented safety regulations that will come into play starting April 2019.

According to the new regulations, All motorcycles with engine capacity up to 125cc will need to be equipped with a CBS (Combined Braking System) and those above the 125cc mark will need to have ABS.

Bosch is by far the largest manufacturer of ABS systems, and therefore almost all motorcycles with ABS would be using a Bosch ABS control module. Bosch has found that keeping a motorcycle stable during acceleration and braking helps and has therefore pioneered MSC (Motorcycle Stability Control) and ABS.

In the view of safety, Bosch has also introduced advanced rider assistance systems for motorcycles. It comprises adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and blind-spot detection. It uses an array of sensors including ones in the radar, brakes, engine management, etc.

According to Bosch, such systems will first be made available by Ducati and KTM in 2020, probably on the 2020 Ducati Multistrada and 2020 KTM 1290 Duke. The Indian automotive industry is headed towards BS-VI emissions norms and this poses a new challenge for automotive companies.

Bosch is hoping to help in this situation too as the company displayed a smaller, lighter and cheaper ECU (Engine Control Unit) for commuter motorcycles. As we all know, a fuel-injected motorcycle is more efficient and cleaner than a carburetor-fueled one and this is why Bosch has already developed ECUs for commuter bikes.

At the event, Boch had put on display one such ECU. Also on display was a Bajaj Dominar that was part of the Polar Odyssey ride - A ride sponsored by Bajaj and Bosch among others in which three Bajaj Dominars were ridden from the Arctic to Antarctica without a single breakdown. This further stressed on the reliability of Bosch products as the Dominar's ECU and ABS control module is manufactured by Bosch.

Thoughts On Bosch' Growth And Future Plans For India Revealed

The automotive Industry's future is hinged on electric vehicles and fossil-fueled vehicles will have to rely heavily on electronics and rider and driver aids. This is exactly where Bosch comes into the picture with the best in terms of reliable technology. The company has been at it for years now, and by the looks of it, their thirst for innovation doesn't seem to have an end.