The safety benefits of Electronic Stability Programs have now been felt on the streets for a decade. Now, after becoming the first supplier to initiate volume production of ESP, Bosch looks back at its achievements, while highlighting the technology’s bright future.
Bosch has released a new range of batteries, designed specifically for Asian cars and car-based LCVs. The new products belong to the company’s AsiaSILVER range and calcium-silver alloy technology. The battery manufacturer says it has designed the new 100 per cent maintenance-free AsiaSILVER range to meet the stringent Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and offer enhanced performance, durability, safety and functionality compared with more traditional JIS lead acid batteries.
The 14 part numbers are said to provide coverage of almost all Japanese and Korean cars and van derivatives on sale in the UK. The AsiaSILVER range incorporates the same features of the Bosch Silver range, which has now been available in the UK aftermarket for the past 6 years.
Power ratings range from 40A/h up to 95A/h, with the most powerful version vibration proof for use in 4×4 off-road vehicles. Bosch reports that AsiaSILVER has a 20 per cent longer service life than traditional JIS-type batteries and an 18-month shelf life.
Hayes Lemmerz has announced that company vice president, James Stegemiller has decided to retire.
Bosch has been presented with the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for Driver and Passenger Safety for its development of Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), which prevents vehicles getting out of control. ESP is the latest evolution in electronic braking systems, which started with the introduction of ABS 25 years ago.
Continental Teves, a unit of Continental AG, and Robert Bosch Corp, the North American subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, have joined together to form the Electronic Stability Control Coalition (ESCC). The coalition will conduct a consumer public relations and marketing campaign designed to educate consumers about the safety benefits of electronic stability control (ESC) systems in passenger cars and light trucks. ESC is an active safety system that enhances vehicle stability in critical situations by analyzing the driver’s intention and comparing it to what the car is actually doing. The coalition wants to promote the impact that ESC systems can have on improving the safety of automobiles. One of the key goals is to inform consumers of the importance and benefits of ESC, a breakthrough in safety technology. The public education programme will include the development of issues research, as well as the creation of broad-based grassroots programmes, such as seminars and brochures.
Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart, and the Michelin Group, Clermont-Ferrand, have established a joint venture company for integrated vehicle dynamics management systems. The new company is called Integrated Safety Systems ISS and is based in Paris. The purpose of the joint venture company is the market introduction of new systems resulting from the partners’ joint development activities. In 2001, both companies had announced their cooperation in the fields of tires and chassis control systems, with the objective to improve safety and mobility of automobiles thanks to an optimized coupling between tire and electronic brake control technologies. Bosch produces automotive technology in 140 plants on all 5 continents. In 2001, it achieved sales of € 23.2 billion in this business sector, with 143 000 employees. Last year, the Bosch division chassis systems, a leading manufacturer of braking systems, had 18 000 employees and achieved sales of around € 4.5 billion. Michelin produces and sells tires for all kind of vehicles, including passenger car, light and heavy trucks, 2-wheels, aircraft, agricultural and earthmover vehicles, as well as the US space shuttle, and develops suspension and anti-vibration systems. Michelin counts 80 production sites in 5 continents, has 130 000 employees and sales operations in over 170 countries. The Group achieved around € 15,8 billion sales in 2001.
Siemens VDO Automotive is to join SupplyOn, the internet marketplace for the automotive supply industry. Among the other members are companies such as Bosch and Continental. SupplyOn represents a buying volume of around 35 billion Euro.
Robert Bosch GmbH (Stuttgart) and Michelin (Clermont-Ferrand) have announced a long-term strategical partnership in the development and distribution of integrated driving dynamic management systems. The co-operation covers the fields of research and development as well as the introduction of product to the market. Both companies have identified working areas for the basis of common developments and synergies.
The electro-hydraulic brake (EHB) in vehicles will replace the traditional mechanical-hydraulic brake within the next few years. This concept of the future has become commonly-known by the term “brake-by-wire” and will be a milestone in the total car electronic network. Continental subsidiary Teves is also developing such a braking system, but the EHB system about to be introduced on the market by Mercedes-Benz was developed by Teves competitor Robert Bosch.
TecCom (Munich), an internet wholesale platform for automotive accessories, has a new Managing Director. Jürgen Buchert (44) has worked as Sales Director for Western and Eastern Europe in the automotive aftermarket division of Bosch for the past five years. At the moment 21 European automotive part manufacturers – among them tyre producer Continental – support TecCom.
Someone who acquires a seat at the top, and even reaches the CEO position at Continental, will neither be fired nor will he just quit. There is what is called “a separation on friendly terms”. The question whether Kessel and von Grünberg could ever have been friends is not even relevant. Whoever thinks that von Grünberg just shrugged and happily retired to some comptroller’s position will find out that he was wrong. Von Grünberg is the type of man who may occasionally loosen the handcuffs, writes a German daily newspaper, but he also tightens them again. His thumb pointed downwards, and that gesture determined Kessel’s future, and the whole board went along, including the banker Weiss.
The Michelin stand at Frankfurt, the new technological development partner for Bosch presents developments which will particularly enhance the cars of today and tomorrow. As a wood, metal and glass structure, the booth aims to highlight the high technology of the exhibited products, whilst being user friendly for visitors. Innovation (PAX, Chassis Systems, concept tyres) and high performance (tyre product families) are the two messages transmitted through this architecture. In addition, visitors have the opportunity to test the PAX system on two Renault Scénics in the outer area of the fairground.
The tyre trade as we know it is fighting a defensive battle, finding it harder and harder to maintain its 60 p.c. market share of sales to the user. Not only car franchise firms with their recently acquired considerable strength give the tyre trade a hard time in competition, but new forms of distribution, which may be grouped together under the loose label “Fast Fit”, are on the advance. Many Volkswagen, Fiat, Ford (to name but a few marques) so-called contract dealers have had their contracts terminated and are looking for new means of earning a livelihood. These companies, mostly family-run, will not easily be displaced. They will specialise in marketing replacement parts complete with a competent and reasonably priced service. Fichtel & Sachs, a Mannesmann group subsidiary, offers a franchise system under the AutoCrew name, naturally also for the optimum marketing of its own products, shock absorbers. Bosch, the giant in the electrical field, is also looking for new openings for its service workshops. The objective is to gain marketing expertise in tyres by cooperation with Goodyear, with Bosch offering Goodyear’s tyre trade partners know-how in the automotive field in return. Specialist markets like ATU with their increasing importance in tyre marketing should not be overlooked either. In the nineteen nineties ATU grew from zero to the current number of 230 outlets throughout Germany, all of them with high turnover figures, i.e. each of them probably turning over well above 2.5 million euros. ATU founder Peter Unger’s appetite, however, is not nearly satisfied, the expansion will go on. The article in the January issue of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG describes the individual tyre marketers. It queries many things, asks many questions without being able or willing to provide the answers. Only one thing remains clear: To found a new company exclusively for tyre trading (including the services related to it) is dangerous. The chances of surviving a long start-up phase are regarded as relatively small. The gist of the article is this: In future we will see an ever increasing number of Fast Fitters making the bulk of their turnover with tyres, while Automobil, Bosch, AutoCrew and similarly derived Fast Fitters will focus mainly on other products, with tyres nevertheless generating a significant share of total turnover, somewhere between a quarter and a third.
Continental AG and Robert Bosch GmbH, together with a number of other companies, intend to create an electronic communication and transaction exchange. The reason is to simplify and speed up business transactions between automotive companies and their suppliers.
Leading companies in the field of car components are to build up a new e-business solution for dealers and independent workshops. Like Bosch, Delphi, Mannesmann, VDO Sachs Tenneco and some others, Continental wants to use the new platform (for the Teves brand ATE and the ContiTech division), too.
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