Bosch Amalgamates AI And Connectivity

According to Michael Bolle, Bosch board of management member, “AIoT offers enormous potential. We are already unlocking this potential and plan to expand our efforts in the future.” Under the tagline “Sustainable #LikeABosch,” the company presented intelligent, sustainable solutions for health, living, and mobility at the virtual tech trade fair CES 2021.

Among the innovations Bosch introduced at the tech show is the world’s first self-learning AI sensor for wearables and hearables in fitness tracking. Since the AI runs on the sensor itself (edge AI), there’s no longer any need for an internet connection during an exercise session – this improves energy efficiency and data privacy. The company also presented a sensor that measures factors such as air quality and relative humidity. This delivers information about aerosols’ concentration in the air – data that has become especially important in the fight against the coronavirus. Bosch security cameras help in the battle against the virus. AI makes it possible for them to execute a wide array of customer-specific applications. For example, a new camera solution with integrated intelligent video analysis measures body temperature contactless, anonymously, and with high precision – with a maximum deviation of half a degree. Moreover, using a software solution for the open camera platform of the Bosch startup Security and Safety Things, these cameras can detect whether the number of people in a shop complies with the prevailing coronavirus restrictions. This platform was designated a 2021 CES Innovation Award Honoree, making it one of four Bosch solutions singled out this year. Another premiere was a portable haemoglobin monitor that can detect anaemia by means of a finger scan. The device is particularly well suited for regions that have insufficient access to medical care. Equipped with AI, the haemoglobin monitor delivers a result within 30 seconds – no lab test or blood draw necessary.

Sustainable #LikeABosch: Bosch as a pioneer in climate action

A study recently published in Germany indicated that AIoT could go beyond health applications to support climate action as well. The study found that comprehensive digitalisation in mobility, manufacturing, and building technology could help get the country nearly halfway to achieving the Paris Agreement emissions targets (source: Accenture).

Here is where Bosch takes a hand: its tagline for this year’s CES – “Sustainable #LikeABosch” – expresses one aspect of the company’s entrepreneurial responsibility. The #LikeABosch image campaign’s sequel highlights how everyone can do their part to protect the environment with sustainable products. Bosch itself is leading by example: according to in-house calculations, all the company’s 400 locations worldwide have been carbon neutral since 2020. Bosch is the first globally operating industrial enterprise to achieve net-zero carbon emissions regarding its energy and energy sources externally. “The next step for Bosch is to address emissions along the entire value chain, from procurement to product use,” Bolle says. In that vein, Bosch is the first automotive supplier to join the Science Based Targets initiative with a specific and ambitious goal: by 2030, to cut upstream and downstream CO2 emissions by 15 percent. The Group’s achievements in climate action have won recognition outside the company as well: the non-profit Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) has added Bosch to its A List.

Through its advisory company Bosch Climate Solutions, founded last year, Bosch shares its experience as a climate action pioneer with other companies. The Bosch startup markets several solutions, including the cloud-based energy platform, which applies intelligent algorithms to reduce machines’ energy consumption and thus increase production processes’ efficiency. The company has already deployed the platform at more than 100 locations, making a major contribution to improving energy efficiency – the main lever in the company’s efforts to go carbon neutral.

Digital, Sustainable

As this example shows, digitalisation is paving the way for sustainability. “We want to be the leading AIoT company in every area that we operate in,” Bolle explains. Trust in AI is the most important prerequisite for it to become established to improve people’s lives and help limit climate change. To this end, Bosch relies on industrial AI, which explains the physical world to machines – instead of teaching them how to behave like people. Nonetheless, this requires ethical guidelines. To set them, Bosch has drawn up an AI code of ethics that centres on the idea that humans always retain control.

In addition to improving energy efficiency in manufacturing, the company is systematically adding connectivity to its products for buildings and mobility to help consumers save energy. One of these products is an energy manager that the company offers for use in private homes. When combined with a heat pump and photovoltaic system, the manager can cut energy consumption by up to 60 percent. In the mobility sphere, drivers of electric vehicles can benefit from services such as Battery in the Cloud, which uses smart software analysis to reduce battery wear by up to 20 percent.

In general, the combination of electrified and automated driving with personalised and connected services will open up a broad field for software applications. Vehicle computers are central to Bosch’s efforts to extend its leading role in software-intensive electronic systems.

To meet this demand, the new Cross- Domain Computing Systems division and its 17,000 associates started operations at the beginning of the year. In this unit, Bosch combines its capabilities in hardware and software engineering for vehicle computers, sensors, and control units for all vehicle domains. This reduces complexity in vehicle development and will get new functions on the road significantly faster.

On The Moon

From earthbound roads to activities in space: whereas last year’s CES saw the premiere of the SoundSee AI sensor system for the International Space Station, this time Bosch set its sights on the moon. As part of NASA’s Tipping Point programme, it is joining forces with the companies Astrobotic and WiBotic as well as the University of Washington to develop smart, autonomous navigation and wireless charging technologies for robots that explore the lunar surface. Starting in 2023, these shoebox-sized lunar robots, called CubeRovers, should be able to move autonomously across the moon and also find their way back to their docking stations. Bosch researchers working on Pittsburgh and Silicon Valley projects are contributing their expertise in AI-based intelligent data analysis and wireless connectivity solutions. The resulting findings will flow into the further development of Bosch AIoT solutions back on earth.

All this clearly shows how much potential AIoT offers, as well as the key role sustainability, plays in it. “Only companies that pursue sustainability today and unlock the enormous potential of AIoT, will be successful tomorrow,” Bolle added. (MT)

IVECO BUS Academy Integrates Virtual Reality Into Customer Training Programmes

IVECO Bus Academy

IVECO BUS Academy is incorporating virtual reality (VR) into its training curriculum to support the maintenance and operation of electric vehicles across Europe. The initiative follows a year in which the academy trained 6,100 people across 800 sessions in 2025. This integration aims to address the technical skills required for high-voltage vehicle systems while ensuring safety and operational efficiency.

The use of VR technology allows trainees to perform maintenance procedures in a simulated environment, eliminating physical risks associated with incorrect handling of electrical components. The immersive system enables repetitive practice of technical operations and reproduces complex scenarios that are difficult to simulate in conventional training environments. By utilising these tools, the academy seeks to improve knowledge retention and the long-term proficiency of technical teams.

The academy provides training tailored to the requirements of transport operators, updating its content to reflect changes in energy sources, vehicle technology and industry regulations. These programmes are delivered both at the academy's facilities and on-site at customer premises. The deployment of VR is intended to reduce downtime for vehicle fleets by improving the diagnostic capabilities of service personnel.

Teresa Magno, IVECO BUS Academy, said, “At IVECO BUS Academy, we know that delivering sustainable mobility extends far beyond the product itself. A vehicle is only truly efficient when it is supported by the right services. Fleet availability also relies on the expertise of skilled teams. As technologies evolve, so do the competencies required for diagnostics. With these new educational tools, IVECO BUS Academy confirms its ambition to provide comprehensive solutions, where training becomes a real driver of performance, safety and customer satisfaction.”

IndiGo Ventures Invests INR 100 Million In Sarla Aviation For Air Taxi Development

Sarla Aviation - Indigo

IndiGo Ventures has completed a INR 100 million strategic equity investment in Sarla Aviation, marking a formal entry into the Indian electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) sector.

The funding was part of a recent round led by Accel and Nikhil Kamath. The partnership is intended to establish an infrastructure for air taxi operations across India, specifically targeting transport corridors between zero and 300 kilometres.

Sarla Aviation is a startup focusing on the development of hybrid-electric aircraft platforms. The firm operates a private eVTOL demonstrator and employs an engineering team with previous experience at international firms including Lilium, Joby and Volocopter.

By utilising electric flight technology, the company aims to provide transport services for airport transfers, inter-city commutes and emergency medical runs at lower costs than traditional helicopter services.

The collaboration pairs Sarla's hardware development with the operational infrastructure of IndiGo, India's largest airline. At present, IndiGo operates over 2,000 daily flights across 85 airports and maintains a national network of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities. This investment aligns with global trends where major carriers, such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, have backed eVTOL manufacturers to secure future urban air mobility solutions.

Beyond passenger transport, the investment is expected to influence the domestic aerospace supply chain, including the production of composites, avionics and battery systems. Potential routes identified for future operations include Bengaluru Airport to Electronic City and Gurugram to Noida, which could see transit times reduced from over 90 minutes to approximately 15 minutes.

Adrian Schmidt, Co-Founder & CEO, Sarla Aviation, said, “IndiGo’s investment marks a turning point — not just for Sarla, but for the future of how India moves. For decades, Indians have accepted that distance means delay, that geography is a constraint you live with. We believe that era is ending. Having IndiGo — the airline that made flying accessible to hundreds of millions of Indians — stand behind this vision gives it a weight and credibility that we could not have built alone. India has always dreamed big. Now we have the partners to match the dream.”

Bosch Focuses On Innovation And Structural Reforms For 2026 Growth

Stefan Hartung - Robert Bosch

German technology company Robert Bosch has announced its 2030 strategy, prioritising technological leadership in automation, electrification and artificial intelligence (AI) to navigate a challenging global economic environment.

Despite geopolitical tensions, the group reported 2025 sales revenue of EUR 91 billion, a slight increase from the previous year. For 2026, the company expects sales growth of 2–5 percent and an improved EBIT margin from operations between 4–6 percent.

The 2025 financial results were impacted by structural and personnel adjustments, resulting in provisions of EUR 2.7 billion. These measures reduced the EBIT margin from operations to 2 percent, down from 3.5 percent in 2024. However, the group maintained a high level of investment, dedicating EUR 12 billion to research, development and capital expenditure. Bosch remains a prolific patent applicant, registering approximately 6,300 patents in 2025.

A primary focus for the company is the advancement of sensor technology and automotive software. The global market for sensors is projected to exceed USD 440 billion by 2031, and Bosch is positioning its BMI5 sensor platform for applications in robotics and automated driving.

In the mobility sector, the firm secured orders worth EUR 10 billion in 2025 for driver assistance solutions and central vehicle computers. The group also expects to deliver more than 7 million components for electric vehicles this year.

The company is diversifying its reach through regional partnerships, including a joint venture with Tata AutoComp Systems in India to manufacture electric motors and axles. In the consumer goods sector, artificial intelligence is being integrated into products such as home appliances and professional power tools to drive sales.

To support future investments and improve capital market access, Bosch will begin publishing interim consolidated financial statements. The group's equity ratio remains high at 41.6 percent, with a positive free cash flow of EUR 300 million recorded in 2025. Total headcount saw a slight reduction of 1 percent during the year, ending with 412,774 associates worldwide.

Stefan Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch, said, “Bosch can deliver the future – even under unfavourable conditions. 2026 will be a year of progress. As a global technology leader, we are committed to shaping the trends of automation, digitalization, electrification, and artificial intelligence, as this also paves the way for profitable growth in our business. An important prerequisite for this are the cost-cutting effects of the structural measures we have already initiated and innovations in all business areas.”

Markus Forschner, Member of the Board of Management and Chief Financial Officer, Robert Bosch, said, “Competitiveness is the foundation for profitable growth – it secures our investments for the future. This strengthens our resilience in the face of upcoming challenges and at the same time boosts our investment capacity for the future.”

Toyoda Gosei Achieves Automotive SPICE Level 2 For Software Development Quality

Toyoda Gosei Achieves Automotive SPICE Level 2 For Software Development Quality

Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. recently received independent verification from third-party certification body SGS Japan Inc. confirming that it has reached capability Level 2 under the Automotive SPICE international standards, which evaluate the quality of automotive software development. This achievement reflects a major step forward in the company’s software engineering practices.

As next-generation software-defined vehicles become more common, where performance increasingly depends on digital systems, developing software that enhances product value has grown essential. Toyoda Gosei has responded by integrating electronic components with its traditional rubber and plastic products. The company has therefore established structured processes and strengthened its software development systems, which serve as the foundation for creating advanced products.

Specifically, within an interior lighting project, the company has achieved capability Level 2 in Automotive SPICE international assessment standards, confirmed by a third-party organisation that the company’s software development processes demonstrate systematic execution and proper management, achieving a uniform level of maturity. Moving forward, Toyoda Gosei aims to continue producing higher value products that contribute to more comfortable mobility spaces.