Bosch doubles down on China innovation

Localization for globalization

Bosch's localization strategy is also deeply reflected at the operational level, where Chinese engineering talent plays an increasingly central role in global product development cycles.

At Bosch's Suzhou operations, assistant test engineer Wang Doudou represents a younger generation of Chinese engineers embedded in global workflows.

He joined Bosch in 2021 after completing a company training program and now works on integrated power brake systems for new energy vehicles — systems directly linked to vehicle safety and performance.

"Our products directly affect vehicle performance and driving safety, so there is no room for mistakes," Wang said.

His experience includes a multimonth assignment in Germany, where he worked alongside Bosch engineers preparing a new production line transfer to China.

Before leaving for Germany, he was concerned about language and cultural barriers. However, his experience changed his perception of cross-border collaboration.

"When we encountered difficult technical problems, German colleagues were very patient and shared their experience with us," he said. "I realized that barriers between people often do not come from nationality or language, but from our own assumptions."

Wang also observed that different engineering cultures can complement each other in practical ways.

"German colleagues emphasize planning and precision, while Chinese teams are often more flexible in responding to market needs," he said. "When these two approaches combine, you can achieve a model that is both agile and high-quality."

Such integration of talent and methodology has become a defining feature of Bosch's China operations.

Despite ongoing global economic uncertainty and rising geopolitical tensions, Bosch executives remain confident in the long-term trajectory of China-Europe industrial cooperation.

Hartung emphasized that the two regions are structurally complementary, rather than competitive.

"China is a fantastic market, innovation hub, and manufacturing hub," he said. "Europe also has tremendous strengths in technology, universities, and specialized expertise."

He also highlighted the importance of human exchange in sustaining long-term cooperation.

"Europeans only really understand China after seeing China themselves, and Chinese people understand Europe better after seeing Europe," he said.

Xu echoed this sentiment, noting that multinational cooperation remains essential for industrial advancement.

"I hope Europe and China can continue maintaining open communication and mutually beneficial cooperation," he said.

Bosch increasingly positions China not only as a domestic market, but also as a global platform supporting innovation diffusion.

Hartung added that China's high-speed innovation ecosystem continues to strengthen Bosch's global competitiveness by compressing development cycles and increasing technological responsiveness.

"The Chinese market is unlike almost any other market in the world," he said. "There is tremendous competition, but also tremendous speed. That pushes companies to improve constantly."

Bosch also continues to benefit from China's highly educated engineering workforce and expanding research ecosystem, which are increasingly integrated into global product development pipelines.

Looking ahead, Hartung reaffirmed Bosch's long-term commitment to the Chinese market and its evolving industrial landscape.

"China will remain an important market for almost all of our sectors," he said.

More broadly, he views China as a key driver of future industrial transformation across mobility, energy systems, and digital manufacturing.

"Technology can truly help make life better in China and Europe," Hartung said. "Innovation needs trust and great minds. And when great minds work together in a positive environment, meaningful progress becomes possible."

Contact the writers at zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn.