Bosch in crisis: up to 22,000 job cuts planned

This is What It Looks Like! Surviving in the Long Term is Robert Bosch's Motto

2026-05-19 Source: dpa 1 min Reading Time

In view of the crisis, Stefan Asenkerschbaumer, Chairman of the Bosch Supervisory Board, refers to the values of the entrepreneur ...

The Bosch Group has to reinvent itself in many areas. This costs money and, unfortunately, many jobs. To justify these measures, the management also refers to the values that founder Robert Bosch once established for himself ...(Image: Bosch) — The Bosch Group has to reinvent itself in many areas. This costs money and, unfortunately, many jobs. To justify these measures, the management also refers to the values that founder Robert Bosch once established for himself ...
(Image: Bosch)

The world's largest automotive supplier Bosch is currently suffering not only in its core area, but also in almost all other business areas. Billions have to be spent on job cuts, US customs duties have to be paid and a high tax burden has pushed Bosch deep into the red. Even according to its own figures, Bosch is no longer competitive in many areas. In order to turn things around, the management is making major cuts to personnel and structures. "With regard to our values, however, it is important to know that Robert Bosch always focused on the long-term survival of the company," said Stefan Asenkerschbaumer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Bosch, in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. He has spared no sacrifice to achieve this goal, as the survival of the company secures everything else for the future.

Controversy Over Compliance With the Bosch Philosophy

The Group plans to cut up to 22,000 jobs in the supplier sector alone over the next few years. It is relying in particular on voluntary programs, such as early retirement, partial retirement and severance payments, in order to make the cuts as socially responsible as possible. However, there are also plans to cut jobs in other areas: For example, at the household appliance subsidiary BSH and the power tools division. IG Metall, on the other hand, accuses management of trampling on the values of Robert Bosch. After all, these would have included reliability, responsibility and fair cooperation. Asenkerschbaumer counters with the fact that all measures were aimed at precisely these demands. However, there are times when Bosch's survival must ultimately be ensured. Bosch may be in crisis, but the values have not been ignored.

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