Würzburg/Germany, 12 July, 2007

In order to get a grip on costs, Bosch is starting up its own production of piezoelectric actuators at its German plant in Bamberg. The first serial modules already came off the production line last month, and it is planned that production will move into top gear in 2008.

„We are not happy about the price of piezoelectric actuators. So we decided to start making them ourselves from the middle of this year onwards,“ explained Dr. Ulrich Dohle, Chairman of the executive management of Bosch’s diesel system division.

The Bamberg plant was given the job of making them because it has been producing sensors for a long time which are manufactured in a similar way, meaning that Bosch has a qualified team which it can fall back on. Furthermore, the piezoelectric actuators can then directly be channelled into the further production process within the plant.

Overall, out of the total workforce of 8,200 at the Bamberg plant, there will be some 250 Bosch employees working on the production of the actuators.

Bosch will not, however, be able to cover its own requirements entirely with the actuators it produces. The company therefore intends to continue purchasing a quantity of actuators. The relevant suppliers currently include Epcos and Ceramtec.

You will find more background information on the above development in the next edition of the German magazine, »Automobil Industrie«, which is due to go on sale on 19th July.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact:

Jens Meiners

»Automobil Industrie«

Chief reporter/member of the editorship

Vogel Auto Medien GmbH & Co. KG

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97064 Würzburg

Germany

Tel.: +49 (0)931 418-2926

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