Bosch lines up Rs 900 cr capex for FY18

Auto components major Bosch has lined up capex of over Rs 900 crore for this fiscal with plans to invest in developing future technologies, including connected business solutions.
The Bengaluru-based company, which has been developing local solutions that specifically cater to Indian market, is driving for transition to the internet of things (IoT) era.
"The journey towards 'connected' began years ago at Bosch India. We have been investing in the region consistently and for the financial year 2017-18 we will invest over Rs 900 crore," Bosch group India President and MD Soumitra Bhattacharya told reporters here.
Of the capex earmarked for the year, around 15 per cent will go to the R&D activities, he added.

"The region accounts for over 30 per cent of the group's R&D engineer pool making Bosch India the largest centre outside Germany with 18,500 engineers," Bhattacharya said.
The company also announced the launch of locally developed micro climate monitoring system (MCMS). It helps in relaying critical information such as particulate matter NOx, carbon monoxide and other environmental pollution parameters.

"When mostly all aspects of daily life are connected and compatible, it only makes sense to have an accurate indicator of environmental quality levels to devise the best living and working conditions," Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions MD & President Vijay Ratnaparkhe said.

In the age of IoT where all devices are interconnected and can speak with each other, air quality monitoring is just one of the many technologies, he added.
"Bosch India's R&D journey will gain momentum as India is one of the three locations identified by the global team to set up an artificial intelligence centre," Ratnaparkhe said.
Globally for Bosch, products featuring artificial intelligence are expected to account for 10 per cent of group's sales within the next five years.
The company today displayed a range of connected solutions in various fields including automotive, agriculture and environment monitoring.