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The Bosch Group said today that it plans to exploit the growth prospects in its global markets during the 2026 business year. The global supplier of technology and services is planning sales growth of 2-5% and an EBIT margin from operations of 4-6% for 2026. All told 2025 was a disappointing year for the German mega-supplier. All of the challenges that hurt 2025 results remain in place for 2026.*
“As a global technology leader, we are committed to shaping the trends of automation, digitalization, electrification, and artificial intelligence, as this also paves the way for profitable growth in our business. An important prerequisite for this are the cost-cutting effects of the structural measures we have already initiated and innovations in all business areas,” said Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH during a presentation of the company’s annual results.
Bosch in 2025
Bosch posted sales revenue of €91.0 billion in the 2025 business year, slightly up on the previous year (2024: €90.3 billion). After adjusting for exchange-rate effects, this was equivalent to 4.1% growth. At 2%, the EBIT margin from operations was below the previous year’s figure (2024: 3.5%). “Necessary structural and personnel adjustments to increase future viability had a considerable negative impact on result in the form of provisions of €2.7 billion,” Bosch said in a release.
Bosch achieved a positive free cash flow of €300 million euros in 2025 (2024: 900 million euros). The R&D ratio stood at 8.7% of sales (2024: 8.6%). Expenditure on research and development amounted to €7.9 billion. “Even in difficult times, Bosch is prepared to make substantial upfront investments,” said Markus Forschner, member of the board of management and chief financial officer of Robert Bosch. “Capital expenditure remained at a high level. Bosch made considerable upfront investments in areas such as electro-mobility, semiconductors, and state-of-the-art braking control systems. At 41.6%, the equity ratio also remained high (2024: 44.3%). The Bosch Group continues to be financially solid, even though liquidity as per the consolidated statement of cash flows fell to €7.4 billion (2024: €8.2).”
The 2025 and 2026 Challenges
Bosch said “it believes that the weak economic development of 2025 will continue in the current business year. High levels of uncertainty, primarily due to geopolitical developments with the as yet unpredictable effects of the war in the Middle East, are likely to continue to affect inflation and global economic output. Moreover, price and competitive pressure remain high. Nonetheless, in the first three months of the year, Bosch was able to keep its sales more or less at the previous year’s level; after adjusting for exchange-rate effects, revenue was some 5% higher. Bosch expects the global economy to achieve only moderate growth, at the level of recent years.”
The 2025 Business Year By Sector
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Sales development in the business sectors was held back both by the subdued economy in focus markets and by negative currency effects.
- The Mobility business sector recorded an increase in sales revenue of 0.1% to reach 55.8 billion euros. After adjusting for exchange-rate effects, this was equivalent to 2.9% growth. The EBIT margin from operations came to 1.8% (2024: 3.8%).
- In the Industrial Technology business sector, sales rose by 0.1% to 6.5 billion euros. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, the increase was 2.4%. The main reason for this was the downward trend on the North American market. The EBIT margin increased to 3.5% (2024: 1.2%).
- In the Consumer Goods business sector, sales revenue fell by 1.9% year on year to 19.9 billion euros. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, however, sales increased by 4.1%. The consumer goods business suffered in particular from a lack of impetus from the construction industry in China and the U.S. The EBIT margin from operations was 3.0% (2024: 3.5%).
- The Energy and Building Technology business sector generated sales of 8.5 billion euros. This is an increase of 13.0%, or an exchange rate-adjusted 15.6%. The EBIT margin from operations was 0.5% (2024: 4.9%). This was heavily influenced by one-off costs from acquisitions and sales activities.
- The 2025 business year: development by region
Revenue
Sales revenue in Europe declined slightly, Bosch recorded slight increases in the other regions of the world. In Europe, sales revenue fell by 0.6% year on year to €44.2 billion – but grew by 1.5% after adjusting for exchange-rate effects.
- In the Americas, sales revenue increased by 3.8% to €18.5 billion, or by 9.3% after adjusting for exchange-rate effects.
- In Asia Pacific, sales increased by 0.7% to €28.3 billion. Adjusted for exchange-rate effects, the growth rate amounted to a 5.0%.
Headcount
At the end of 2025, worldwide headcount in the Bosch Group stood at 412,774 associates (2024: 417,859), a reduction of ~1% (5085 associates). This had the greatest impact on the Mobility business sector and regionally on Germany.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Bosch Group Plans Sales, EBIT Growth after a So-So 2025
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The Bosch Group said today that it plans to exploit the growth prospects in its global markets during the 2026 business year. The global supplier of technology and services is planning sales growth of 2-5% and an EBIT margin from operations of 4-6% for 2026. All told 2025 was a disappointing year for the German mega-supplier. All of the challenges that hurt 2025 results remain in place for 2026.*
“As a global technology leader, we are committed to shaping the trends of automation, digitalization, electrification, and artificial intelligence, as this also paves the way for profitable growth in our business. An important prerequisite for this are the cost-cutting effects of the structural measures we have already initiated and innovations in all business areas,” said Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH during a presentation of the company’s annual results.
Bosch in 2025
Bosch posted sales revenue of €91.0 billion in the 2025 business year, slightly up on the previous year (2024: €90.3 billion). After adjusting for exchange-rate effects, this was equivalent to 4.1% growth. At 2%, the EBIT margin from operations was below the previous year’s figure (2024: 3.5%). “Necessary structural and personnel adjustments to increase future viability had a considerable negative impact on result in the form of provisions of €2.7 billion,” Bosch said in a release.
Bosch achieved a positive free cash flow of €300 million euros in 2025 (2024: 900 million euros). The R&D ratio stood at 8.7% of sales (2024: 8.6%). Expenditure on research and development amounted to €7.9 billion. “Even in difficult times, Bosch is prepared to make substantial upfront investments,” said Markus Forschner, member of the board of management and chief financial officer of Robert Bosch. “Capital expenditure remained at a high level. Bosch made considerable upfront investments in areas such as electro-mobility, semiconductors, and state-of-the-art braking control systems. At 41.6%, the equity ratio also remained high (2024: 44.3%). The Bosch Group continues to be financially solid, even though liquidity as per the consolidated statement of cash flows fell to €7.4 billion (2024: €8.2).”
The 2025 and 2026 Challenges
Bosch said “it believes that the weak economic development of 2025 will continue in the current business year. High levels of uncertainty, primarily due to geopolitical developments with the as yet unpredictable effects of the war in the Middle East, are likely to continue to affect inflation and global economic output. Moreover, price and competitive pressure remain high. Nonetheless, in the first three months of the year, Bosch was able to keep its sales more or less at the previous year’s level; after adjusting for exchange-rate effects, revenue was some 5% higher. Bosch expects the global economy to achieve only moderate growth, at the level of recent years.”
The 2025 Business Year By Sector
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Sales development in the business sectors was held back both by the subdued economy in focus markets and by negative currency effects.
Revenue
Sales revenue in Europe declined slightly, Bosch recorded slight increases in the other regions of the world. In Europe, sales revenue fell by 0.6% year on year to €44.2 billion – but grew by 1.5% after adjusting for exchange-rate effects.
Headcount
At the end of 2025, worldwide headcount in the Bosch Group stood at 412,774 associates (2024: 417,859), a reduction of ~1% (5085 associates). This had the greatest impact on the Mobility business sector and regionally on Germany.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.