Bosch opens Vietnam facility

Bosch marked the official opening of a high-tech facility in Vietnam for the production of push belts used for Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) in automobiles. Situated at Long Thanh Industrial Zone, Dong Nai Province, the plant is part of the Bosch Group’s Gasoline Systems division and spans over a land area of 160,000 square meters. It will produce up to 1.6 million push belts in its first year, which can be fitted into vehicles ranging from sub-compact cars to sports utility vehicles with diesel, gasoline or hybrid engines. To date, Bosch has invested some €30 million (US$44 million) into the plant. It is projected to increase this investment to a total of some €55 million (US$81 million) and employ 800 associates by 2015. (April 18, 2011)