Robert Bosch Starter Motors and Generators (China), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany's Bosch Group, officially started operation in Changsha on Aug 2, opening a new state-of-the-art research and development center second only to the German headquarters.

Bosch is one of the world's leading suppliers of starter motors and generators for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. It develops products in international teams and manufactures products in a worldwide chain of production facilities.

The company grew out of the Bosch division of starter motors and generators in China, which stared operation on Jan 1, 2005, in the Changsha National Economic and Technical Development Zone.

The Bosch division has grown into a leading enterprise in Changsha's auto and parts industry. Its annual sales volume in 2015 reached 6.6 billion yuan. The total output value of the city's auto and parts sector was 66.4 billion yuan ($9.95 billion) last year.

Zhang Yingchun, the vice-mayor of Changsha, said at the launching ceremony of the subsidiary, that the government will lend continuous support to the new company by providing a favorable business environment and services.

The launching ceremony of Robert Bosch Starter Motors and Generators (China) Co Ltd [Photo / hunancom.gov.cn]

Committed to becoming the top supplier of starter motors and generators in China, Bosch decided to set up a subsidiary to develop innovative systems and products that meet various requirements of customers from home and abroad.

The independently-run subsidiary is engaged in researching and manufacturing starter motors and generators, as well as start-stop systems for passenger cars, and commercial vehicles. The company is committed to reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, which should benefit the environment.

"We will sell 1.7 million sets of start-stop systems that can be equipped in different types of vehicles within this year," said Sun Wenzhong, the CEO of the subsidiary. Construction of a new plant for the company, located at the intersection of Dongliu Road and Renmin Road in Changsha county, will begin in November this year. The company says it will be the innovation base for an international R&D team led by Chinese engineers.