At a robotics and automation event in Berlin, CEO Stefan Hartung talked about the numbers: Bosch expects this year’s profit margin to land somewhere between 4% and 6%, with revenue growing 2% to 5%. That outlook signals they’re counting on things bouncing back after restructuring costs drag earnings down in 2025. Compared to some of their peers like Schaeffler and ZF, who’ve been hit hard by sagging auto demand and the expensive switch to electric cars, Bosch’s stance looks pretty optimistic.
Bosch is pushing hard into electrification, software, automation, and new mobility tech as the auto industry moves away from traditional engines. The company’s also cutting about 13,000 jobs in its car business to boost efficiency and cope with shifting demand. Hartung said Bosch is getting ready for what’s next, pointing to layoffs and big bets on future tech. But he didn’t sugarcoat how tough things are right now—car production in Germany is slowing, people aren’t buying as many cars, and making the leap to electric vehicles is a rough ride.
Still, Bosch is plowing ahead with investments in electric drivetrains, power electronics, advanced driver-assistance systems, and automation. He also flagged geopolitical risks, like the war in the Middle East, that could squeeze supplies of key materials for making semiconductors. Helium, in particular, could become harder to get. This isn’t just Bosch’s problem—the whole industry is worried about disruptions in raw materials, specialty gases, shipping, and energy costs.
If shortages hit, production schedules suffer and costs go up. So, Bosch is doing what it can: diversifying suppliers, keeping more essential components in stock, sourcing more locally, and leaning on automation to make factories more flexible and less vulnerable to disruptions. Analysts think Bosch’s size and tech muscle give it an edge over smaller rivals, but the ongoing costs of restructuring and heavy investment will keep profits tight until their newer ventures start making real money.
If Bosch actually pulls off its margin goals in 2026, it’ll be a sign their turnaround is working. Investors won’t take their eyes off the company’s cost-cutting moves, electrification progress, or whether all the R&D in software and automation actually pays off. Hartung’s message is cautiously upbeat: Bosch isn’t backing down from the investments needed to shape the future of mobility and industrial automation, even with all the risks swirling around the industry.
