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Bosch continues policies of visionary founder
By Xia Huan (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-12 07:50 True to its slogan "invented for life", German technology giant Bosch continues to provide innovation that conserves energy, protects the environment and helps people improve their quality of life. With a history stretching a century in China, the Bosch Group has emphasized sustainable development through its corporate social responsibility, cultivation of local talent and social welfare programs.
"I've always been guided by the principle that it's better to lose money than to lose trust, company founder Robert Bosch once said. "The inviolability of what I promise, faith in the value of my products and in my word have always been more important to me than a quick profit." Early environmentalism Environmental protection has been a core initiative of the Bosch Group since 1973, reflected in its "3S Principle" of "sicher, sauber, sparsam," which in English means safe, clean, economical. On the front line in the development of China's auto industry, the company shares its engineering, knowledge and experience on new energy technologies through cooperation with Chinese OEMs and local partners. Though many think the electric car will be the future, industry analysts and experts say the dominance of the internal-combustion engine will remain unchallenged over the next 20 years. Bosch's environmentally friendly "start-stop system" can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 8 percent on conventional cars, particularly in urban traffic. After Bosch first brought the design to China in 2008, the technology is now in use by several Chinese OEMs. The company expects 70 percent of major components in the system to be made locally by 2010. Another of the company's efforts is in renewable solar energy. Over the past 30 years it has produced more than 500,000 solar collectors that have reduced 190,000 tons of CO2 emissions through generating about 490 mWh of electricity every year that didn't use goal or other carbon-based energies. Bosch has also made contributions to road and driving safety by raising public awareness in cooperation with local partners and various levels of government in China. Its efforts on safety, saving energy and environmentally responsible technologies earned Bosch China the 2008 Innovation Award given by China Business News. Green manufacturing In both product development and production, Bosch continues to work on minimizing environmental impacts, in part through a network of 67 health, safety and environmental (HSE) associates throughout the nation that provide training, audit Bosch sites and improve HSE implementation and performance.
Among operations that have benefited from the effort is the Xi'an branch of Bosch's joint venture United Automotive Electronic Systems Co Ltd, which was recognized as a "2008 Environmental Protection Advanced Unit" in the city's hi-tech development zone. Support for education As one of the first entrepreneurs in Germany to introduce the eight-hour workday, Robert Bosch was keen to promote training among his workforce from the very beginning. As early as 1913, he established an in-house apprentice department and workshop. Bosch China now employs 20,200 associates, its largest number outside Germany. Bosch also supports local education wherever it does business in China and inspires young people to participate in science and technology by donation of equipment and through internships, scholarships and other programs Every year, Bosch Power Tools (China) Co Ltd's scholarship at Zhejiang University awards 10 excellent students 3,000 yuan each ($439). Social activities As it has grown internationally, Bosch Group remained true to its founder's promise to contribute to local communities where it operates. Immediately after the Sichuan earthquake struck on May 12, 2008, Bosch donated power tools worth 100,000 yuan ($14,648) to the earthquake rescue headquarters of the Chengdu Public Security Fire Department in Dujiangyan, and later donated 2.5 million yuan cash and equipment for relief efforts. Bosch Group further donated 11 million yuan to rebuild schools in Heishui and Pengzhou area devastated by the earthquake. During the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, technical experts from Bosch Automotive Diesel Systems Co Ltd provided 24-hour free maintenance and repair services for the Beijing Public Transportation Group. This year Bosch will celebrate its centenary in China to mark not only business success, but also its deeply rooted role in China as a responsible corporate citizen.
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