Bosch Plans Smart Plant for Electronic Components in Mexico

Bosch is investing 100 million euros in a new plant in Celaya. The company plans to build a new smart factory for electronic components in the central Mexican city by 2020.

The goal is to create more than 1,200 additional jobs at the new location in Celaya in the coming years. In total, the Bosch Group employs around 16,000 associates and is active with all four of its business divisions in Mexico. In 2016, the company generated sales of 1.1 billion euros in the country.

The Latin American emerging market has become highly industrialized in recent years, driven mainly by the automotive industry. In 2017 alone, nearly 3.8 million vehicles were manufactured in Mexico. In order to increase efficiency and competitiveness as a leading global manufacturing location, Mexico is increasingly focusing on the use of Industry 4.0. Bosch is playing a part in this.

In total, Bosch currently operates ten manufacturing locations around the country and has already introduced the use of smart technologies, for example at its Mobility Solutions sites in Toluca and Juárez. As a leading provider of Industry 4.0 solutions, the Bosch Group also sees local business opportunities in Mexico.

The new approximately 21,000-square-meter facility in Celaya, which is located in the state of Guanajuato, will manufacture electronic control units (ECUs) for the American market. These are key components for connected mobility. Alongside Juárez, Celaya will be home to the Automotive Electronics division’s second plant in Mexico. With a total surface area of 170,000 square meters, the site will have capacity for further expansion in the future.

In addition, the plan is to build a logistics center for Mexico on the adjacent property, which will also serve as a warehouse for the new plant. With the investment in a new location, Bosch is continuing its long-term expansion in North America. Over the past five years, a total of around 2.6 billion euros has been spent on strengthening the company’s local presence. In Mexico, where Bosch has been active since 1955.