Bosch, a global leader in automotive parts, is feeling the pressure from the ongoing crisis in the auto industry.
The company has announced plans to cut 5,500 jobs worldwide in the coming years. Around 3,800 of those positions will be eliminated in Germany.
The move has sparked outrage from employee representatives, who have promised to fight the decision, according to Chip.
The job cuts are part of Bosch’s efforts to address shrinking demand and rising competition in the automotive sector.
Affected divisions include Cross-Domain Computing Solutions, which develops technology for driver assistance and automated driving.
This unit alone will see 3,500 jobs eliminated globally. About half of those cuts will be in Germany, with facilities in Leonberg, Abstatt, and Hildesheim among those most impacted.
A Slap in the Face
Hildesheim, a site focused on producing e-mobility components, faces 750 job losses by 2032.
Of those, 600 positions will be gone by 2026. Schwäbisch Gmünd, home to Bosch’s steering systems division, is also set to lose up to 1,300 jobs by 2030. This represents more than one-third of the site’s workforce.
Bosch says it is working to implement these cuts in the most socially responsible way possible.
Agreements reached earlier this year protect workers in Germany from forced layoffs until 2027, and in some cases, until 2029. Despite these commitments, the news has caused concern among employees.
The company points to stagnant global vehicle production and increased competition as the main reasons for the cuts.
Demand for electric vehicle components and advanced driver assistance systems has grown slower than expected. Some projects have been delayed or canceled altogether.
Bosch plans to consolidate operations and shift some production to lower-cost facilities abroad to remain competitive.
Labor representatives have criticized the move. Frank Sell, a leading labor council member, called the cuts “a slap in the face” for workers.
He vowed to organize resistance at all levels. Bosch’s announcement adds to a broader wave of job losses across the automotive industry as companies like Ford and Volkswagen grapple with similar challenges.
