South Africa Edition 2

espective divisions and their business concepts
which include:
• Automotive Division: Automotive parts,
diagnostics and workshop concepts
• Power Tools Division: Power tool solutions
for both industry and the home
• Security Systems Division: Security and fire
detection solutions, as well as conferencing
and public address systems for domestic,
corporate and industrial applications
throughout Africa
• Starter Motors and Generators: Manufactured
in South Africa
In the coming years, Bosch anticipates annual
sales growth of over ten percent in South Africa.
This will be driven above all by the boom in
the local automotive and powertool industry.
Annual vehicle production is set to increase from
710,000 units in 2006 to an estimated 900,000
units in 2010.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
The network of South African Bosch Service
centers, which offer diagnostics, maintenance,
and repair services for all vehicles, continues
to grow. Over the next three years, their number
is set to increase from the present 130 to 175.
In addition, there are some 30 specialist diesel
workshops. Bosch will also manufacture safety
systems locally: from 2007 on, the Brits plant
will supply complete braking systems featuring
ABS to an auto-maker in South Africa. The
buoyant South African construction sector is
also having a positive effect on Bosch business:
state-supported housing projects and the
construction of a high-speed rail network for the
Johannesburg metropolitan area (Gautrain) are
creating and increasing demand for power tools.
The construction and improvement of football
stadiums in preparation for the World Cup, to be
staged in South Africa in 2010, is further boosting
this welcome effect.
PROMOTION
With a massive - and growing - customer base,
Bosch is a supplier of quality goods and services to
many large corporations. Current major accounts
include: all vehicle manufacturers (OEM) and
P&As in South Africa; Diesel Electric; the Midas
Group; Supergroup Automotive Parts; Engine
Parts; Builders Warehouse; Game; Makro;
Servicestar; DeLaRey; FEDS; Dions; Cashbuild;
Jacks Paint; Mica Hardware; Pick ‘n Pay Hyper;
Spar Build-It; Timber City; the Essential Group;
Lambson Hire; Talisman Hire; Coastal Hire;
Senwes Co-op, and NWK Co-op.
These companies offer a huge diversity of
distribution channels across Bosch’s market.
For this reason, each division - Automotive
Aftermarket (AA), Power Tools (PT) and
Security Systems (ST) - is individually
responsible for its own marketing initiatives.
These include television, print, radio advertising
and promotional road shows throughout South
Africa. In addition, each division is responsible
for taking its own message to the market
with regard to new products or technological
developments. To enhance the brand, sales
and marketing initiatives are all adopted from
centralized corporate guidelines from Bosch’s
parent company in Germany. The Bosch brand
is also visible at exhibitions and other public
events, like Auto Africa 2006, as well as its
own celebration of 100 Years of Bosch in South
Africa. The centenary event incorporated a press
symposium and a gala event that highlighted the
success of the company over the last century. The
brand is further enhanced via its e-commerce
website, where Bosch conducts business online
for efficient and effective customer service.
BRAND VALUES
Bosch has always been a value-driven company
that encompasses change and continuity. Many
of its values can be traced back to founder Robert
Bosch, while other values have evolved over
time.
Bosch values reflect the manner in which
it conducts business: professional ethics in
dealing with business partners, investors,
employees and society. Bosch takes advantage
of its position as one of the world’s foremost
technology and services companies to encourage
global opportunities for strong and meaningful
development in areas such as South Africa. To
ensure the highest quality, Bosch focuses on its
core competencies in automotive technologies,
power tools and security systems. At Bosch,
quality is the most valued asset, and it is on this
platform that all other values are based. Bosch
believes that innovation today ensures business
tomorrow. The Bosch values steer all company
actions, a continual guide to priorities and
commitments.
THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT
BOSCH
In Brits, near Johannesburg, some 850 of
the total South African Bosch workforce
of 1000 manufacture automotive
technology products
Bosch’s 100-year presence in South
Africa began with the agency
appointment of Friedrich Hoppert &
Company in 1906
In 1965, RBSA was established as a 100
percent subsidiary of Bosch in Germany
as a sales organization
On 2 November 2006, the Bosch Group
celebrated its centennial in South Africa
Bosch sales in the South African market
have doubled over the past ten years
The Bosch Group today comprises
a manufacturing, sales, and aftersales
service network of 39 affiliated
companies, 48 representative companies,
more than 270 manufacturing facilities
worldwide and more than 13,000 Bosch
service centers in over 140 countries