IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following its entry into the U.S. eBike market in early 2014, Bosch has established a new headquarters office for Bosch eBike Systems (www.bosch-ebike.us) in Southern California, expanding the business unit’s global operations in the U.S. and Canada. Tim Frasier, president, Automotive Electronics, Robert Bosch LLC and company executives joined local customers, business partners and bicycle advocacy leaders on January 8th to publicly announce the opening of the 4,000 square-foot office located at 12 Mauchly, Unit E in Irvine. The new office will manage sales, marketing, advocacy, application and technical support, service, project management, and quality management.
The new headquarters will help Bosch eBike Systems support the growing number of bicycle brands launching pedal-assist eBike products in the U.S. and Canadian markets, such as BH EasyMotion, Felt Bicycles, Grace, Haibike, KTM, Lapierre, Xtracycle, and others. Bosch-equipped eBikes will be available in 2015 on a wide variety of bicycle styles like urban commuter, trekking, mountain, fat-tire, and cargo bikes. Bosch is Europe’s market leader in pedal-assist electric bike technology.
“Since Bosch-equipped eBikes first went on sale in the U.S. last summer, we’ve seen fantastic response to our product. We’re expecting a big year in 2015 as even more brands begin to offer eBikes with our technology. Our new headquarters located in the heart of the U.S. biking industry will help us to support these brands, their dealers, and ultimately, the end-consumer,” said Claudia Wasko, business unit leader, Bosch eBike Systems North America.
“Bosch’s heritage and future is based on innovation and deploying our core competencies in new business areas. Opening this new headquarters for the eBike systems business is truly an exciting milestone in the expansion of Bosch’s North American footprint,” said Frasier. “eBikes offer a new era of mobility for commuters, athletes, enthusiasts, trailblazers and those leading an active life. They are an outstanding example of how we live our company imperative, ‘Invented for life.’”
"Bosch's decision to anchor its North American headquarters in California displays the nexus of a bike friendly state with a strong economy,” said Dave Snyder, Executive Director of the California Bicycle Coalition. “So many of their customers − bicyclists and bike companies − are already here in California, and as the Bicycle Coalition succeeds in enabling more people to bike, Bosch can look forward to a long and prosperous time in California.”
Bosch’s eBike System, when mounted on a bicycle, has the power to flatten hills and shrink cities. It does this by boosting a cyclist’s human power with electric power at speeds up to 20 mph. The key components of the system are the PowerPack and Drive Unit, which leverage state-of-the-art Li-ion battery, motor, and sensor technology from Bosch’s Automotive and Power Tools businesses. The end-result is the cyclist feels they are being pushed up the road by a tailwind as they pedal − great for outdoor adventurists and urban commuters alike.
The opening of the new eBike headquarters marks another step in Bosch’s continued expansion in California. Currently Bosch employs over 500 associates throughout 10 facilities across the state, active in research and development (Palo Alto) and a variety of business areas from automotive aftermarket (Fountain Valley, Ontario, Santa Barbara) to drive and controls (Pleasanton), healthcare (Palo Alto) to home appliances (Irvine), power tools (Anaheim) to security systems (Ontario) to thermotechnology (Irvine). Irvine is an especially strategic location, due to its adjacency to many of the world’s largest bicycle brands and thriving bicycling culture.
About Bosch eBike Systems
Bosch eBike Systems provides a high-quality drive system for pedal-assist only eBikes. The Bosch eBike drive system consists of a drive unit (motor and transmission), a battery and a smart and intuitive cycle computer. In Europe, Bosch is already the market leader; more than 50 leading bicycle brands rely on the eBike system made by Bosch. In 2015, a selected customer base of eBike manufacturers (BH EasyMotion, Felt Bicycles, Grace, Haibike, KTM, Lapierre, and Xtracycle) will offer their eBikes e-powered by Bosch in the U.S. market. Bosch eBike Systems is a part of the international Bosch Group. Additional information is available online at www.bosch-eBike.com.
About Bosch
In the U.S., Canada and Mexico, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket solutions, industrial drives and control technology, power tools, security and communication systems, packaging technology, thermotechnology, household appliances, healthcare telemedicine and software solutions. Having established a regional presence in 1906, Bosch employs 24,600 associates in more than 100 locations, with consolidated sales of $10.4 billion in 2013. For more information, visit www.boschusa.com, www.bosch.com.mx and www.bosch.ca.
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In 2013, its
roughly 281,000 associates generated sales of 46.1 billion euros ($61.2 billion). Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 360 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 50 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. In 2013, the Bosch Group invested some 4.5 billion euros ($6.0 billion) in research and development and applied for some 5,000 patents. This is an average of 20 patents per day. The Bosch Group’s products and services are designed to fascinate, and to improve the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial. In this way, the company offers technology worldwide that is “Invented for life.” Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com and http://twitter.com/BoschPresse
*Due to a change in accounting policies, 2013 figures can only be compared to a limited extent with 2012 figures. The decision to forego the application of proportionate consolidation affects mainly BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH and ZF Lenksysteme GmbH (2013 consolidated sales volume of some $9.7 billion). Exchange rate: 1 EUR = $1.32812.
