Mexico. A 3% growth in its sales during 2014 reported the Bosch company in Mexico, reaching 934 million dollars. This result marks the fifth consecutive year of year-over-year growth for the company in the country.
Local and export production totaled $2.4 billion, a 15% increase driven by strong growth in the automotive sector and investment to increase local manufacturing. The consolidated figures include the effects of the accounting policies modified in the previous year.
Although GDP growth in Mexico only reached 1.1% in 2013, the solid development of all Bosch business sectors contributed to the result. Tecnología Automotriz, Bosch's largest sector in Mexico, generated sales of $834 million, while the Industrial Technology sector achieved sales of $76 million.
Sales of $18 million were generated in the Consumer Goods sector, while the Energy and Construction Technology sector continued with stable growth with sales of $6 million in 2013.
The number of workers at Bosch Mexico who are in the company's headquarters and production plants in Mexico amounted to 10,650 at the beginning of 2014, an increase of 21%.
Over the past 10 years, the Group has invested more than $400 million in Mexico. Bosch's investments in North America during 2013 totaled $317 million, including $94 million in Mexico. Between 2013 and 2020, Bosch will invest more than $460 million in new production lines at its Juarez and Toluca plants, enabling the company to meet the growing demand for high-tech automotive products in North and South America. This investment is expected to generate up to 3,000 new jobs during the same period.
In 2013, Bosch invested nearly $6 million globally, or 10% of sales, in research and development. Bosch's 42,700 researchers filed nearly 5,000 patent applications during the course of 2013, approximately 20 for each business day. About half of the company's global R&D investments were dedicated to technologies and products that protect the environment, save energy and conserve resources.
Actively demonstrating its commitment to environmental protection and the conservation of natural resources, Bosch Mexico signed an agreement with Enel Green Power, a multinational renewable energy corporation, to supply most Bosch plants located in the Mexican Republic with renewable electricity from wind generators. Within this measure, more than 38,000 tons of CO2 emissions can be eliminated per year.
With a focus on agility, profitability and growth, bosch Group sales grew by 3% to $61.2 billion (in U.S. dollars). The pre-tax result totaled $3.65 billion. Automotive technology, the largest business sector, increased sales by 6.7% to $40.6 billion, while sales of the Industrial Technology business declined to $9.1 billion. The Energy and Construction Technology business sector generated sales of $6 billion, an increase of 3.9%, while the consumer goods business sector achieved sales of $5.4 billion, representing a slight decrease of 0.6%.
Bosch expects sales to grow by three to five percent in 2014. Internet-based products and services constitute one of the focal points of the company's future business. With its hardware know-how and extensive technological experience, the technology and service provider is well prepared to move in this direction. Bosch's strategic goal is to create connected solutions for mobility, manufacturing, energy systems and buildings.
Bosch's consolidated sales in 2013 in North America (United States, Mexico and Canada) increased seven percent to $10.4 billion. Bosch's combined sales in the Americas – North and South America – reached $12.6 billion, contributing 21% of the company's global sales. Bosch invested around $380 million euros in North and South America in 2013. The company plans to double its sales in the Americas by the end of the decade.
