Bosch USA history

Robert Bosch had a house built in 1909 in Stuttgart.

With orders constantly rising and the factory in Stuttgart operating at full capacity, Bosch decided to start manufacturing locally in the United States in 1912.

By 1914, 70 percent of the company's sales were in the United States.

In Mexico, a number of different agents were responsible for marketing Bosch products starting in 1922.

1927: Production of fuel injection pumps for diesel engines begins.

Bosch, which expanded modestly during this period, purchased the radio manufacturer Blaupunkt-Werke in 1933.

1936 – First diesel fuel injection pump for passenger cars, such as the Mercedes-Benz 260D

The company's growth necessitated a new form of organization, and in 1937 it was incorporated as a private limited company.

A hospital that he gave to the city of Stuttgart was officially opened in 1940.

1942 – Death of the company founder Robert Bosch on 12 April

New efforts were made to develop more advanced products, and by 1949 Bosch perfected a mechanical fuel injection system.

1951: Bosch begins developing gasoline injection pumps for vehicle engines.

In 1952 Bosch also began to manufacture hydraulic equipment and do-it-yourself power tools.

That same year, in 1954, Robert Bosch (Canada) Ltd. was established in Montreal.

The first Bosch washing machine goes into series production in 1958.

Today it is the headquarters of the Robert Bosch Foundation, which was founded in 1964, and since then has been one of the largest industrial foundations in Germany.

In Mexico, production began in Toluca in 1966.

Bosch took over the company in 1969, laying the foundation for today’s regional organization in Mexico.

Even the perfectly boiled egg for breakfast can now be prepared with great ease, thanks to the first Bosch egg boiler that appeared on the market in 1970.

That is why, from 1973 on, Bosch started to support families with its first microwave oven – naturally to the benefit of the rest of the family, too.

Bosch purchased a plant in Charleston, Virginia, in 1974 to produce fuel injection systems in the United States.

1978: Company launches the world's first series-produced antilock braking system.

1982 – Company acquires photographic equipment division from Braun AG

By 1984, nearly half of the cars sold in the United States were equipped with fuel injection systems.

By 1985, the Bosch ABS system was standard on many European automobiles and had also been introduced on American luxury cars.

Bosch began production of its first traction control system in 1986.

1989: Company creates the Bosch Telecom Business Sector servicing telecommunications and communications systems.

On the manufacturing side, two Czech Republic-based joint ventures were formed in 1992 to produce automotive equipment.

By the end of 1995, total disbursements had reached around 640 million DM.

Even if not completely recovered, the company was feeling healthy enough by early 1996 to make a $1.5 billion acquisition of Allied Signal Inc.'s hydraulic- and antilock-braking business for light vehicles.

1997 – Common rail diesel fuel injection patent bought from Fiat.

In 1999 Bosch initiated a sell-off of the majority of its telecommunications and mobile telephone holdings from its Communications Technology division.

Its acquisitions included Zexel Corporation (known since 2000 as Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation), which strengthened its position as the world's second-largest supplier of automotive components.

Combined, they targeted a 2001 sales volume of about DM 8 billion.

2003 – The formation of the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation and acquisition of S-B Power Tool Corporation and Vermont American Corporation including the brand names for Bosch Power Tools, Skil Power Tools, Dremel, Vermont-American, Primark brands, and Gilmours

2004 – Bosch opens new Technology Center in Abstatt

2006 – Bosch acquires Telex Communications, a maker of hearing aids, headsets and audio equipment, and partners with Daewoo to build Bosch refrigerators in Mexico

2007 – The Bosch Communications Systems business unit is created to manage the brands and products of former Telex Communications

2009 – Bosch acquires LR Nelson, a maker of lawn and garden products, including ponds, and merges the Gilmour and Nelson brands into Bosch – Garden and Watering.