Bosch Showcases Clean Diesel, Collision Mitigation Solutions at Washington Auto Show, SAE Event

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Bosch continues to show its wide variety of automotive systems, including its advanced clean diesel and collision mitigation solutions. The company will have a strong presence in Washington, D.C., the week of Jan. 25 as it exhibits in the Washington Auto Show Green Car Pavilion and features three executives as panelists at the SAE Government Industry Meeting. Additionally, some of Bosch's electric drive technology will be featured at the Bright Automotive exhibit on its plug in electric hybrid vehicle product, the IDEA. Throughout the week, the company will also provide test drives in a variety of clean diesel vehicles.

According to Bernd Boisten, regional president of Bosch Diesel Systems, North America:  "The Washington Auto Show and the SAE Government Industry Meeting provide Bosch an opportunity to discuss the future of a variety of technologies and share ideas with others on the state of the industry during this critical time when it is beginning to rebound."

Boisten explains that Bosch, which has a strong commitment to research and development, investing $4.3 billion in 2009 and dedicating more than 25,000 associates to research and development worldwide, has a clear vision for the industry's future:  "Ultimately, the company sees the electric vehicle becoming a reality long term and is diligently working to get the electric drive of the future readied for large-scale series production.

"At the same time, Bosch engineers are doing their utmost to further improve the internal combustion engine, which will be the prevailing powertrain, for decades to come. Bosch engineers are working to reduce the fuel consumption of gasoline and diesel engines by up to one third.  Moreover, Bosch is also striving to make driving even safer. Preventing accidents is just as much a part of our company's strategic vision as protecting the environment."

According to Kay Stepper, director of marketing, product planning and innovation management for Bosch Chassis Systems Control, 80 percent of drivers in rear-end collisions do not take full advantage of the vehicle's braking capabilities, as documented in a recent Bosch study utilizing the German In-Depth Accident Survey. This means that many rear-end collisions are due to driver inattention and inadequate braking. In its continued efforts to reduce vehicle-related injuries and fatalities, Bosch has developed and manufactured a portfolio of active safety solutions, including the Predictive Emergency Braking System (PEBS), which assists the driver in mitigating and even avoiding collisions.

During the SAE Government Industry Meeting, Bosch is participating in three panel discussions, providing insight on the company's latest advancements in powertrain, safety and additional technologies that help lower emissions and save fuel. Sessions and speakers include:

• Wednesday, Jan. 27: 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Dr. Kay Stepper will be presenting PEBS: A Predictive Emergency Braking System Approach and Estimation of its Benefits for the 'New Innovations in Advanced Safety Technology' session (Room 144 BC).  

• Thursday, Jan. 28: 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Alexander Freitag, manager, Diesel Engineering, Robert Bosch LLC, will be presenting Improving Efficiency and Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Heavy-Duty Vehicles for the 'Heavy-Duty Technologies and Solutions to Improve Efficiency and Emissions' session (Room 144 A).

"During the next few years, most developed countries will be introducing strict NOx emission standards for on- and off-highway, heavy-duty vehicles," said Freitag. "Bosch is working collaboratively with the industry on many solutions, including selective catalytic reduction as well as increased injection pressures to help achieve the future requirements."

• Friday, Jan. 29: 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Dr. Johannes-Joerg Rueger, senior vice president, Diesel Engineering, Robert Bosch LLC, will be presenting IC Engines - for GHG Reduction in the Driver Seat for the 'Light-Duty Powertrain Strategies – Are IC Engines Taking a Back Seat?' session (Room 143 A).  

"In fact, internal combustion engines are clearly not in the backseat," Rueger says. "In contrast, it is most important to improve the efficiency of those engines and bring more clean diesels as the most efficient powertrains to the U.S. market. This is the key to reduce greenhouse gas emissions now."

Boisten adds that clean diesel continues to gain acceptance because people are realizing more and more that it is a clean and efficient technology that delivers approximately 30 percent better fuel economy than its gasoline counterpart, and clean diesel vehicles hold their value over time. Driving is believing as consumers have opted, for example, for the Volkswagen Jetta TDI at rates of greater than 40 percent as compared to their gasoline counterpart.    

To provide a firsthand experience with the clean diesel technology, Bosch will also be offering test drives to demonstrate clean diesel vehicles, including: a 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTEC, 2010 BMW 335d, Audi A3 TDI, 2010 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI and a 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI. All vehicles will be available for test drives at the Washington Auto Show on Tuesday, Jan. 26, for the Policy Day Ride and Drive on L Street, and will also be made available by request through the week.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 280,000 associates generated sales of 45.1 billion euros ($66.4 billion) in fiscal year 2008. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 300 subsidiaries and regional companies in over 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Each year, Bosch spends more than 3.5 billion euros ($5.7 billion), or eight percent of its sales revenue, for research and development and applies for over 3,000 patents worldwide. With all its products and services, Bosch enhances the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial.

In North America, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial drives and control technology, power tools, security and packaging technology, thermotechnology, household appliances, solar energy and healthcare products. Bosch employs nearly 24,000 associates in more than 70 locations throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with reported sales of $8.6 billion in fiscal 2008. For more information on the company, visit www.boschusa.com.

SOURCE The Bosch Group