Malaysia continues to be the third-largest revenue contributor within Southeast Asia for Bosch, a leading global supplier of technology and services. Total net sales in the country increased by 20 percent to RM 2.9 billion (698 million euros) in 2013. This figure includes sales of non-consolidated companies and internal deliveries to other Bosch companies. Consolidated sales to third parties in the local market registered a slight dip compared to 2012, and came to RM 485 million (116 million euros). This was mainly due to extraordinary effects such as increased austerity that cools spending by consumers and businesses.
Bosch’s manpower in Malaysia increased by around 3 percent to almost 2,100 employees over the course of 2013, constituting the largest associate number in Southeast Asia with over 45 percent.
In 2013, the Thermotechnology division more than doubled its sales in Malaysia due to project developments within the food and beverage, oleochemical, and latex industries. The Power Tools, Automotive Aftermarket, and Drive and Control Technology divisions progressed at a steady pace. The Car Multimedia division saw a year-on-year increase of over 40 percent in sales, largely attributed to increasing global demand for in-car infotainment technologies.
The Connectivity Control Unit (CCU), for example, is an integral module for the eCall system developed by the Car Multimedia manufacturing plant in Penang which is already available on the European market. Based on pan-European standards, eCall is an innovative emergency system that transmits data such as location and time to centralised monitoring centres when an accident occurs. These centres then relay critical information that are triggered by sensors within the vehicle to emergency rescue services, thus reducing their response times to the scene of accident, especially in rural areas. In its Power Tools manufacturing plant in Penang, Bosch develops and produces its Rangefinder series for the global market which consists of precision measurement tools equipped with laser technology. Production reached close to one million units in 2013 and is expected to double in 2014.
Asia remains important growth market for Bosch
In Asia Pacific, Bosch achieved sales growth of 5.8 percent (13.8 percent after adjusting for exchange-rate effects) to roughly RM 46.4 billion (11.1 billion euros). Especially in the Chinese growth market, demand for automotive and industrial technologies picked up significantly over the course of the year.
In Southeast Asia, Bosch closed its 2013 fiscal year at RM 2.6 billion (629 million euros) in consolidated sales on the domestic market, remaining at a similar level from the year before. The total net sales of RM 5.8 billion (1.4 billion euros), which includes deliveries to other Bosch companies, amounted to a year-on-year increase of almost 10 percent. Southeast Asia is currently one of the most important growth regions for Bosch. Over the past several years, the company entered the emerging countries of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, and expanded its presence in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.
Bosch Group business outlook for 2014
Bosch expects sales to grow by between 3 and 5 percent in 2014 worldwide. Internet-enabled products and internet-based services are one of the focal points of the company’s future business. With its hardware know-how and broad technological expertise, the supplier of technology and services is well prepared to move into this direction.
