July 11, 2017—Bosch told Reuters it has seen a surge in demand for radar systems and video sensors as automakers race to add advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) features and automated functions to cars. The company said it expected sales of radar systems to leap by 60 percent and of video sensors by 80 percent this year.
Bosch forecasts that sales at its Mobility Solutions division, which makes sophisticated safety systems as well as autonomous car components, would grow around 7 percent this year, benefiting from a broader push to make vehicles more intelligent.
Last year, Mobility Solutions—which employs 227,000 staff—generated $49.8 billion in sales, boosted by deliveries of crash avoidance technologies.
"We are growing faster than the market," management board member Rolf Bulander said.
Bosch delivers advanced safety systems to all of the world's largest automotive companies as well as start-up carmakers. It developed the electric powertrain and steering for Google's prototype autonomous vehicle and is a supplier of ADAS to Tesla.
Bosch has around 3,000 developers working on ADAS, a market which is booming as simple anti-collision technologies like automated braking systems evolve into sophisticated crash avoidance programs using camera and radar to detect obstacles and avoid collisions.
Last year, sales of driver assistance systems, which include radar and video sensors used for emergency braking and cruise control functions, reached $1.14 billion, with the company receiving orders for almost $ billion worth of assistance systems, Bosch said.
