Feb 18, 2014 carparts, news, spares
The Bosch Group has officially launched its operations in Nairobi, Kenya - which, its says, reinforces its commitment to the East African Region, and indicates the company’s rosy outlook on the larger East African market.
Uwe Raschke, member of the Bosch Board of Management, commented: “Our entry in the East African market is an important milestone for Bosch. It reflects the strategic importance that we see in Africa. We are extremely optimistic about our business prospects in Kenya and in East Africa, and our subsidiary is a clear symbol of that optimism.”
The German company is renowned for its innovative strength and efficiency, and explains that it will initially focus on East African Automotive, Power Tools and Security Systems markets. The country's auto industry has been growing in the last decade - helped largely by significant economic expansion, fuelled by a growing middle-class population. According to data from the Kenya Motor Industry, new vehicle sales rose by more than 13% to hit over 14,500 units in 2013. That is up on its peak of more than 13,100 units, recorded in 2008.
Operating in the Automotive Aftermarket, Bosch’s largest division in the African market, the offer to East African consumers will include Bosch parts, test equipment and software, specialised technical training, a hotline, as well as Workshop Concept offerings.
According to Dr. Steffen Hoffmann, Managing Director of Bosch in Southern and Eastern Africa, the aim is: “to work with a network of independent workshops that are small enough to offer real value, yet have the backing of Bosch, one of the world's largest suppliers of automotive parts. This way, we target to offer consumers an alternative choice in the marketplace for bumper-to-bumper servicing and diagnostic repairs. We will ensure strict quality standards set by Bosch worldwide to ensure quality servicing every time.”
Under the Power Tools portfolio, Bosch brings brands such as Bosch, Skil and Dremel to the East African market. The core success factors, it says, are the power and pace of innovation. The company confirms that it launches more than 100 new power tools onto the market every year. Around 40% of the sales of Bosch Power Tools are achieved with products that have been on the market for less than two years.
Bosch has been present in Africa since 1906. It is headquartered in South Africa, where it employed some 600 people at the end of 2013. According to preliminary figures, the company worldwide recorded total sales of 46.4 billion euros in 2013 and boosted its innovation capability by investing some 4.5 billion euros in research and development (R&D).
Feb 05, 2025 0
Feb 04, 2025 0