Bosch Taiwan, the local unit of German engineering giant Bosch Group, is aiming for double-digit growth in revenue this year after more than doubling its sales last year, driven by strong demand for sensors used in smartphones and automobiles, managing director Bernd Barkey said yesterday.
Bosch Taiwan, whose main products include automotive components, industrial products, consumer goods and building products, saw its consolidated sales surge 2.26 times to NT$8.6 billion (US$280 million) last year, from NT$3.8 billion in 2013, with growth in all business sectors, Barkey told a news conference in Taipei.
The showing made Taiwan the single market with the fastest growth worldwide for Bosch Group last year, Barkey said, consistent with the rising importance of the Asia-Pacific region, which generated 27 percent of the group’s sales, next only to Europe’s 53 percent.
In particular, sales of sensor units with microelectromechanical systems advanced by more than 100 percent last year, while automotive components gained more than 30 percent, Barkey said.
“The company is on track to achieve its growth target this year given positive results in the first quarter, when sales increased by more than 10 percent,” he said.
To meet demand, the company plans to add another 50 employees in Taiwan this year, after raising its headcount to 900 last year from 865 in 2013, Barkey said.
The group plans to celebrate its 25th anniversary in the local market this year and demonstrate its long-term commitment by expanding its products with improved staff training, Barkey said.
Bosch has invested more than NT$440 million in Taiwan over the past five years, he added.
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