A contract for settling a project of Bosch Chassis Systems Control in the Chengdu Economic and Technological Development Zone was officially signed Aug 25. It is predicted the total investment of the project will be 96 million Euros (about 880 million yuan). Bosch Group is the second largest automotive technology supplier in the world and one of the largest industrial enterprises in Germany. Its entry into Chengdu adds an important link to the automobile industry chain of Chengdu. Speaking on the final selection of Chengdu, Ferdinando Sorrentino, regional president of Bosch Chassis Systems Control China, said it was the best selection after strict comparison among 10 Chinese cities.

First-phase project to start production in 2013

The Chengdu production base project of Bosch Chassis Systems Control China is engaged in the production and sale of auto parts, components and auxiliary products in focus on ABS/ESP systems and sensors. The project is to be built in three phases. It is predicted that the first phase will officially start service in 2013. After the project is completed, the products will cover the entire Chinese market and the annual average output value will exceed two billion yuan.

Bosch, as one of the largest industrial enterprises in Germany, the second largest automotive technology provider in the world and one of the Global 500 corporations, has set up subsidiaries and branches in more than 50 countries in the world. Its annual income reaches 40 billion Euros ($56.25 billion). At present, it has 270,000 employees globally. The products of Bosch involve automotive technology, industrial technology, consumer goods and building intelligent technology. Bosch Automotive Technology Department covers gasoline systems, diesel oil systems and chassis systems, and is one of the largest auto parts producers in the world.

All business departments of Bosch Group have established a presence in China. The automotive chassis control system settled in Chengdu is the largest production base of its automotive technology department in China.

1 out of 10, Bosch finally chose Chengdu

"Chengdu was selected after five rounds of strict comparison among 10 Chinese cities!" said Ferdinando Sorrentino, regional president of Bosch Chassis Systems Control China, after the contract signing ceremony. During the selection, they company considered multiple factors.

Sorrentino said Bosch Group considered Chengdu the first stop of its layout in China's western region. It is not only an active response to Chinese national policy for the large-scale development of the western region, but also an agreement and recognition to the ideas for building Chengdu-Chongqing economic region and Tianfu New Area and developing an auto industry. The auto industry of Chengdu aims to become an international automobile city and a world-class, high-end industrial base. The two sides share the same development ideas and a good cooperation prospect.

Sorentino said the efficient service of the Chengdu municipal government and the efficient team of the economic development zone "deeply touched" the company. "The signing of the contract for this project is just the start of our cooperation," he said. "In the future, we will cooperate in the R&D and the manufacture of auto parts and broader fields."

Entry of Bosch Group will promote the perfection of the entire auto industry chain

The data from the economic and technological development zone indicates ten major vehicle manufacturing projects, including FAW-Volkswagen, FAW-Toyota, Geely Gaoyuan and Volvo Chengdu base and Dayun Motor, are developing in a cluster and a platform for the annual production of 1.25 million vehicles. The entry of Bosch Group plays a positive role in perfecting the auto industry chain. The reporter has learned the Chengdu Economic and Technological Development Zone is a core carrier of the comprehensive functional zone of the Chengdu auto industry and an important area for the construction of Tianfu New Area. Its future prospect is obvious.

Strategic orientation of the comprehensive functional zone of Chengdu auto industry: It will become a world-class international automobile center, which is suitable for both industrial development and living. In five to ten years, it will become a powerful core of the advantageous cluster of the Chengdu and Chongqing auto industries and a highland of Chinese auto industry. A comprehensive, functional space and structure of the automobile center will take shape and the status of the Chengdu-Chongqi cluster as a tier-2 system of the Chinese automobile industrial cluster will be reinforced. In 20 years, it will become a first-rate auto industry center for China and enter the tier-1 system of the Chinese automobile industrial cluster. In 30-50 years, it will ascend to the high ranks of the international automobile cluster, become an international automobile center and provide important support to Chengdu's endeavor for a world-class modern garden city.

As an important part of the Tianfu New Area, the functional zone of the Chengdu auto industry is also an important piece of the plan in the Tianfu New Area's core functions of "one gateway, two bases and two centers". The "two bases" refer to a high-tech industrial base and high-end manufacturing base, which include electronic information, equipment manufacturing, new energy, new materials, biomedicine and automobile industries.