With no sign of the crisis in the German car industry easing, Bosch subsidiary ETAS, which specializes in vehicle software, plans to cut up to 400 jobs worldwide.
The plans will affect about one in eight of the roughly 3,100 employees worldwide, although the exact number depends on discussions with human resources representatives, a company spokeswoman said Thursday.
According to the company, more than half of these, approximately 1,650, were working at the six locations in Germany at the beginning of July.
The spokeswoman cited the decline in the sector as the reason. Among other things, there is less demand for intelligent driver assistance systems than expected, and other projects are currently on hold.
The Stuttgart-based subsidiary generated sales of EUR 499 million in 2023. It develops basic software for car manufacturers and other suppliers, among other things. However, the portfolio also includes cybersecurity solutions for vehicles.
Bosch has been announcing job cuts for over a year. By the end of 2032, more than 12,000 jobs could be lost worldwide, including more than 7,000 in Germany.
Most of these are in the supplier division. However, jobs will also be lost in other areas, such as the tool division. There have been recent protests against the layoff plans at various Bosch locations in Germany.
The automotive industry is in crisis due to the weak economy and faces weak demand, especially for e-cars.
At Volkswagen, wage cuts, factory closures and job cuts are also on the agenda. IG Metall, the country’s largest trade union, is mobilizing against this with strikes.
Ford in Germany will cut 2,900 jobs by 2027. Suppliers ZF, Continental and Schaeffler also plan to cut thousands of jobs.
