Electric car battery giant formed
2008-08-20 07:35
You might only use its power tools, but Bosch is actually the invisible hand which guides the global auto industry. Now the German giant has teamed up with the world’s biggest electronics company – Samsung – to build electric car batteries.
Bosch and Samsung have formed a joint venture to produce and market lithium-ion batteries for cars by 2011.
Giants team up
The new joint venture company - SB LiMotive – will feature the world’s biggest automotive component manufacturer – Bosch – and the world’s largest electronics company – Samsung – pool resources and technical expertise.
Supplying quality lithium-ion batteries in volumes necessary to satisfy demand from the automotive industry has been a huge barrier to the roll-out of electric vehicles at competitive prices.
With SB LiMotive manufacturing capacity should not be an issue as Bosch has a vast production facility network (dispersed amongst 50 countries) whilst Samsung weighs in with its extensive resources and experience in lithium-ion battery innovation gained form information technology design.
Electric cars are now go
Although manufacturers design, build and market cars, the influence of Bosch in the global auto industry is nearly incalculable.
From advanced engine management electronics and direct injection technologies to dynamic safety systems such as anti-lock brakes and electronic stability systems, the German engineering giant holds sway over who gets what and when; and inadvertently sets the pace of change in manufacturers product portfolios.
SB LiMotive is set to commence operations next month, and with Bosch already the supplier of choice amongst leading German manufacturers, electrification of familiar Germans car brands would seem a foregone conclusion.
Samsung, located on the South Korean peninsula should supply its own and Japan’s huge domestic auto engineering requirements.
With the new joint venture project between Bosch and Samsung, the era of the electric car is now upon us.
