Stuttgart – Robert Bosch GmbH and MAHLE GmbH have founded a 50/50 joint venture for the development, production, and sale of exhaust gas turbochargers. The European anti-trust authorities have approved the founding of the joint venture. "Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems GmbH & Co. KG" will commence business on June 2, 2008.

The company's head office in Stuttgart will house the development, administration, and sales activities. Initially, around 100 employees will work here, with half drawn from each of the parent companies. Series production of exhaust gas turbochargers will begin in 2011 at existing locations in St. Michael ob Bleiburg, Austria, and Blaichach/Immenstadt, Germany. Up to 500 employees will manufacture major parts and components of a high quality and assemble exhaust gas turbochargers. These will be used in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, in both gasoline and diesel engines.

Dr. Martin Knopf and Dr. Andreas Prang have been appointed managing directors of the new company. "We are convinced that Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems will position itself as a preferred partner of international automobile manufacturers for the development and production of exhaust gas turbochargers. Concrete interest has already been shown during numerous discussions with customers," says Prang, responsible for production, purchasing, and quality management. "Now that exhaust gas turbochargers have been successfully used primarily in diesel engines, they will be used increasingly in gasoline engines in the future, in combination with direct gasoline injection for downsizing concepts. This will allow smaller engines to achieve better efficiency with comparable power output," explains Knopf, who is responsible for development, sales, and finances. Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems regards the exhaust gas turbocharger as one of the key technologies for the sustainable reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Bosch and MAHLE are firmly established in the field of automotive powertrains. The two companies complement each other ideally as regards their systems and component know-how as partners in the development and production of new exhaust gas turbochargers.

Contact for Journalists MAHLE GmbH:
Birgit Albrecht
Pragstraße 26 – 46
70376 Stuttgart
Germany
Phone: +49 711 501-12506
Fax: +49 711 501-13700
birgit.albrecht@mahle.com

About Bosch
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 260,000 associates generated sales of 43.7 billion euros in fiscal 2006. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 300 subsidiary and regional companies in more than 50 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Bosch spends more than three billion euros each year on research and development, and in 2007 applied for more than 3,000 patents worldwide. The company was established in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as the ‘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 up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two per cent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining shares and voting rights are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.

Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch.com and www.bosch.co.uk