Bosch has opened a new site for Bosch Hydrogen Powertrain Systems (Chongqing) Co., Ltd., a strategically important facility for the German automotive component supplier’s global electrification strategy, in the Jiulongpo District of Chongqing City, China, Bosch announced Nov. 2.
The facility, which saw construction beginning in 2021, is equipped with Bosch's largest Class-A fuel cell powertrain research and development center, the company said in its press note. The new facility, which is spread across an area of approximately 240,000 square meters, accommodates various functions, including engineering development, testing, manufacturing and sales management.
Stefan Hartung, chairman of the Bosch board of management, who was present at the inauguration ceremony of the new facility, said, “China is the largest market for new energy vehicles in the world, standing at the forefront of technological innovation and industrialization. We aim to seize future opportunities and contribute to sustainable mobility in China through strategic investment and active collaboration with local partners.”
Bosch expects that by 2030, one out of every five new trucks weighing six tons or more will utilize a hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain worldwide. The company views hydrogen as an essential fuel to achieve climate neutrality because of its lightweight nature, renewable attributes and zero-emission characteristics.
To this end, Bosch Hydrogen Powertrain Systems (Chongqing) has been actively strengthening its localized R&D initiatives and expanding its product portfolio to meet the demands of the Chinese market since its establishment in 2021, the company said.
According to the company, it has successfully introduced a range of fuel cell power modules, ranging from 76 kW and 134 kW to 190 kW so far, effectively addressing diverse application scenarios of commercial vehicles, including urban mobility, logistics and medium-duty to heavy-duty long-distance transportation.
It further said that the 300-kW fuel cell power module has already been deployed in customer vehicles for experimental purposes.
“We remain committed to advancing the industrialization of hydrogen energy technology, and Bosch has demonstrated the capability to quickly scale up new innovations to mass production. The inauguration of our new Chongqing facility is one of the solid proofs for this,” said Markus Heyn, member of the Bosch board of management and chairman of the Mobility business sector.
Adding to that, Weiliang Wang, regional president of Bosch Powertrain Solutions China, said, “With the inauguration of Bosch Hydrogen Powertrain Systems (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., the production capacity of Bosch’s hydrogen powertrain products in China is set to increase. We will take root in Chongqing, leveraging the valuable resources and support provided by the Chongqing government. We are constantly exploring more hydrogen application scenarios with cutting-edge and highly competitive hydrogen solutions to local customers, contributing to a low-carbon transportation future in China and beyond.”
