Bosch: Further Cost-Cutting Programs in the Wake of the Transition to E-Drives

Bosch CEO Stefan Hartung is preparing the workforce for further rounds of cost-saving measures. In an interview with the «Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung» (Saturday), he said: "There will be further savings programs simply because another major shift in the powertrain mix in automotive manufacturing is coming our way by 2030." This change over the next five, six, seven years is unavoidable because it is structural in nature. However, he cannot yet quantify the job losses. The unusually strong protests from employee representatives against the downsizing plans have met with understanding from Hartung. "It is true that we have never had to burden the social partnership at Bosch with such layoffs before," said Hartung. It is clear that one cannot expect applause from employees when a job reduction is planned. But one has to live with it; the crucial thing is to sit down together in the end and find a way.

For more than a year now, the technology company has been repeatedly announcing job cuts. By the end of 2032, more than 12,000 jobs could be lost at Bosch worldwide. In Germany, about 7,000 positions are affected. The majority of these are in the supplier division. But jobs are also to be cut in other areas such as the power tools division. There have recently been protests at several German Bosch locations against the downsizing plans. The automotive industry is in crisis due to the weak economy and suffers from sluggish demand - especially for electric cars.