Bosch marks years in SA
We learn how the renowned German automotive engineering specialist is navigating industry needs and AI, as it celebrates 12 decades of business in South Africa.
From its headquarters in the epicentre of German automotive engineering to emerging automotive zones around the world, Bosch has been a pioneering technology developer and supplier for more than a century.
In South Africa, the automotive industry has depended on Bosch to support the technological needs of local OEMs. With a South African presence celebrating 120 years of support and collaboration for the local automotive industry and automotive aftermarket, Bosch is deeply invested in South African automotive engineering, safety, and industrialisation.
What are the opportunities and challenges for Bosch, and with 120 years of experience in South Africa, how does it see the industry developing? We spoke to Dr. Markus Thill, the Africa region President of Bosch, about the future.
Bosch has been an automotive technology leader for more than a century. What difference does the industry need to understand between AI and traditional mechatronic automation?
AI is not a substitute for engineering excellence. It creates value only when it is built on reliable physical systems, robust sensors and highquality industrial data. A hydraulic system, a brake component or an automated production line must first operate safely and consistently. AI can then make that system more adaptive, more efficient and more transparent.
For South Africa, this distinction is particularly relevant. The country needs technologies that work in demanding real-world environments, in automotive production, mining, logistics, energy and industrial operations. AI should therefore be seen less as a standalone technology and more as an enabler within a broader industrial ecosystem. The strongest benefit comes when it enhances human capabilities, improves uptime and strengthens competitiveness.
How can industrial policy improve localisation percentages for South African OEMs?
South Africa has already achieved meaningful localisation in several important automotive areas. The next phase is more demanding because it concerns higher-value, technology-intensive components, including electronics, sensors, software-enabled systems and precision assemblies.
Industrial policy can support this next phase by focusing not only on localisation percentages, but on competitiveness. Companies localise when they can manufacture at the required quality, cost and reliability, and when there is a credible path to scale.
Bosch ' s experience in South Africa shows that localisation is more than producing locally. Our Brits facility manufactures automotive components and has also contributed locally developed innovation, such as the first version of the ASTRA asset tracking solution, which was created to meet demanding local operating requirements.
WORDS IN ACTION 52 SEPTEMBER 2026