• Expansion of silicon design activities with ‘Clean-Room’ launch
• Creating software for integrated circuit testing activities

August 24 2006: BANGALORE –Robert Bosch India inaugurated today a ‘Clean-Room’ at their headquarters at Koramangala. A part of their Electronic Design Services, this facility will be used for validating the tester software used for testing in-house designed circuits and semiconductor devices. The facility itself conforms to Class 100,000 (standard for Clean-Room purity) and has the capability to be upgraded to Class 1000, being one of the few company operated Clean- Rooms in the country of this scale. The overall investment for the facility, equipment and auxiliary systems including top of the line Mixed Signal Automated Test Machines, is in the range of Indian Rupees five and a half crores (or one Million Euros).

“This will be a major step forward on Robert Bosch India’s road to become a semiconductor design center,” said Dr. Claus Schmidt, Head of Silicon Design Activities, Bosch Automotive Electronics. Reutlingen, Germany.

With this new facility Robert Bosch India adds another hi-tech dimension to their existing engineering activities which include Engine Control Unit design and testing, and VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) services among others.

“We are increasingly contributing to the global competitiveness of Bosch.” said Dr. Walter Grote, Managing Director of Robert Bosch India. “A common thread across our activities at Bosch India is the combination of German Engineering and Indian Technology Talent, both which are best-in-class to offer a competitive solution. It is a heady combination and we are happy to be here in Bangalore.” he added.

The accomplishment signals the beginning of a new era for Bosch India into core automotive technology. “This significant investment underscores the confidence of our customers in the capabilities of our engineering staff and significantly augments our ability to service all areas of semiconductor development for the Bosch world” said Mr. R. Krishnan, General Manager, Robert Bosch India Ltd.

Mr. Peter Grosshans, Head of the Silicon Design activities at Bosch India said “This is actually creating software and equipment for testing integrated circuits. It will be very exciting for us as there are not many other companies doing it, if at all, in Bangalore. My team is ready for the challenge.”

Recently Bosch India was appraised at CMMI L5; unlike SW-CMM which is applicable to software development, CMMI is applicable to both software and nonsoftware services. Robert Bosch India Limited has made rapid strides in the last few years and is currently working with over 3,500 associates as the largest development centre of the Bosch Group outside of Germany.

Press photo: 1-Clean Room laboratory; 2- Exterior façade of clean-room building, 3- Dr Walter Grote, Managing Director, 4- Mr Friedhelm Pickhard, Managing Director designate, 5- Mr Peter Grosshans, head of silicon design activities.

About Robert Bosch India
Robert Bosch India Limited is a 100% owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, with over 3500 associates. We provide engineering and non-engineering services to the Bosch World such as Electronic Control Unit Development for automotive, industrial, consumer goods and building technology, as well as IT Services, Process Consulting, Mechanical Engineering, VLSI Services, Shared Services Accounting, and Translation/Documentation. We are ISO 9001:2000 certified and assessed at CMMI Level 5.

About the Bosch Group
The Bosch Group is a leading global manufacturer of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology. In fiscal 2005, some 251,000 associates generated sales of 41.5 billion euros. Set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering,” the Bosch Group today comprises a manufacturing, sales, and after-sales service network of more than 280 subsidiaries and more than 12,000 Bosch service centers in over 140 countries.

The special ownership structure of the Bosch Group guarantees its financial independence and entrepreneurial freedom. It makes it possible for the company to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future, as well as to do justice to its social responsibility in a manner reflective of the spirit and will of its founder. A total of 92 % of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by the charitable foundation Robert Bosch Stiftung. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG.

Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch.com