Bosch Announces Further job Cuts, Citing Tariffs and Demand
German automotive supplier Bosch announced on Thursday a plan to cut an additional 13,000 jobs within its mobility division by 2030, primarily impacting its german facilities. The move comes amidst ongoing challenges in the automotive sector, with the company citing “uncertainty” surrounding tariffs and a need to reduce long-term costs to bolster competitiveness.
The mobility division, employing approximately 70,000 people, previously announced a reduction of 9,000 positions in Germany in early 2023.
“Geopolitical events and trade barriers, such as tariffs, are creating significant uncertainty that all companies must navigate,” stated Markus Heyn, a member of the Bosch Board of directors responsible for the mobility division.
Personnel Director Stefan Grosch echoed this sentiment,justifying the decision as a necessary step to improve the company’s position in the market and lower expenses. “It hurts a lot, but unfortunatly there is no remedy,” he said.
Plant Reductions and Closures Driven by declining Demand
The job cuts will be distributed across several German locations. Approximately 3,500 jobs will be eliminated by 2030 at the Feuerbach plant, which manufactures diesel components and is investing in hydrogen technology, due to decreased demand and underutilized capacity. Schwieberdingen will see a reduction of 1,750 jobs, also attributed to low demand and the slow adoption of new technologies.
Further reductions are planned for Bühl (approximately 1,550 jobs) where the company produces electric motors, and Homburg (1,250 jobs), which primarily manufactures diesel truck components.
The Waiblingen plant, employing 560 people and producing connectors for the automotive industry, is slated for complete closure by the end of 2028 following years of declining production.
As of the end of 2024, Bosch employed a total of 417,900 people globally, a decrease of 11,600 from the previous year. Within germany, Bosch’s workforce has fallen by 3.4% (approximately 4,500 jobs) to around 129,600 employees.
