National Press Release

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bosch Group announced today it will serve as Tier 1 Strategic Partner for the 2009 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress, April 20-23 at COBO Center in Detroit. The Congress' 2009 host company, Honda, recently identified 'Racing to Green Mobility' as the theme of next year's Congress.

"Honda has created a timely theme for the 2009 SAE World Congress: 'Racing to Green Mobility.' This helps create a critical call-to-action for the entire industry, and we are proud to work in tandem with Honda to encourage further 'green' dialogue and collaboration within the industry and beyond," said Lee Manduzzi, executive vice president, automotive sales, Robert Bosch LLC. "It is a fitting year for Bosch to take a more prominent role in the SAE World Congress. More than 40 percent of Bosch's research and development budget is dedicated to products that conserve resources and help protect the environment."

In its role as Tier 1 Strategic Partner, Bosch will provide support and resources to Honda and SAE throughout the planning and execution process, and engage actively on-site during the Congress through exhibitor participation, strong technical program and speaker participation. As part of its commitment to the success of SAE, Bosch will continue its sponsorship of the SAE World Congress banquet Afterglow.

Since 1974 when Bosch introduced its 3S program -- 'sicher', 'sauber', 'sparsam', German terms that mean "safe, clean, economical", the company remains committed to the development of technologies that lower energy consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions across all its business sectors. The 3S program spurred the integration of environmental protection into the overall Bosch business strategy, adding urgency to the company's response to global mega-trends such as scarcity of natural resources.

"We are very pleased to welcome Bosch, a company dedicated to innovation, as our Tier 1 Strategic Partner in the race to green mobility," said Masaaki Kato, president of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. and chairman of the 2009 SAE World Congress. "Through SAE, the entire industry can work together even as we compete against one another to address our common goal of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change."

In its 76th year, the SAE World Congress offers the most comprehensive technical program to the global automotive industry and serves as a unique hub of exchange among industry contingents.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 271,000 associates generated sales of over 46.3 billion euros (over $63 billion) in fiscal 2007. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 300 subsidiaries and regional companies in roughly 50 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Each year, Bosch spends more than 3 billion euros for research and development, and applies for over 3,000 patents worldwide. The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as "Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering."

In North America, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial automation and mobile products, power tools and accessories, security technology, thermo-technology, packaging equipment and household appliances. Bosch employs approximately 25,000 associates in more than 70 locations throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with reported sales of $9.5 billion in fiscal 2007. For more information on the company, visit www.boschusa.com.

SOURCE The Bosch Group