Another crisis in the automotive sector. Bosch, the world's largest supplier of auto components, is preparing a new wave of layoffsAccording to the rumours collected by the newspaper Reuters, the German company is reportedly considering a "five-figure" cut: at least 10 thousand jobs, which would add to the 9 already announced in Germany last year. The news comes as the group, which employs approximately 418 people globally, faces an increasingly competitive environment marked by weak demand and rising trade barriers.
Bosch CEO: "Fight for every cent"
The CEO Stefan Hartung He spoke of a real "fight for every cent" against rivals, confirming the need for "structural adjustments" to remain on the market. The goal is recover margins in a sector, the automotive sector, which in 2024 stopped at an operating profitability of 3,8%: too low for a group aiming for 7%.
The personnel director, Stefan Grosch, has already set a target: 2,5 billion euros in savings, a goal that – according to sources close to the company – is only possible with massive job cuts.
Boschi: the painful precedents
The new plan comes after a 2024 already marked by heavy reductions: 11.600 fewer jobs in the Mobility division alone, the heart of the company with 230 employees and two-thirds of the turnover. In Germany the blow was particularly hard with 4.400 fewer workers, although unions estimated that between 8 and 10 jobs were at risk. Bosch has remained silent in the face of the rumors, postponing any clarification until the press conference scheduled for later today.
Weak growth, independence at risk
Behind the choice are the numbers. Bosch predicts for 2025 only a +2% of revenues, approximately 92 billion euros, compared to a slight decline last year. The corporate structure, based on the founding structure, forces the group to guarantee sufficient returns to remain independent. But the pressure of technological transition, Chinese competition, and the costs of new supply chains are making the path increasingly narrow.
