Robert Bosch - Competitors

Robert Bosch Competition

Now Viewing Robert Bosch's competition in: Automobile Parts and Accessories Manufacture (primary)

Recent Developments

Parts Makers Cope with Trends - As gas prices continue to rise and US carmakers slim down in the face of waning demand, many parts suppliers may have to struggle to survive. The Big Three automakers, GM, Ford, and Chrysler, have cut production of trucks and SUVs as consumer tastes shift to more fuel-efficient vehicles. Parts makers are not only coping with lower auto production, but also smaller profit margins on parts for small cars. US industrial production of motor vehicles and parts dropped 12 percent in June 2008 compared to a year earlier.

ArvinMeritor to Spin Off Light Vehicles Segment - Auto parts supplier ArvinMeritor will spin off its Light Vehicle Systems unit that makes parts for passenger cars as Arvin Innovation. The company will then focus on the operations of its Commercial Vehicle Systems unit, which makes parts for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Commercial Vehicles, the larger of the two segments, expects the North American medium- and heavy-duty truck market to grow as much as 40 percent in 2009.

International Sales Key to Survival - As US-based automakers GM, Ford, and Chrysler struggle to adjust to consumer preferences in the face of $4 per gallon gas, parts makers that depend heavily on the Big Three are hurting. Other suppliers, such as BorgWarner and ArvinMeritor, which have more geographically diverse customer bases, are more ably coping with current market conditions. US exports of motor vehicle parts decreased 5.4 percent in the first five months of 2008 compared to the same period a year earlier.

Competitive Landscape

Demand for auto parts is driven by new car sales, which are strongly affected by interest rates, and by the replacement market. The profitability of a company in the industry depends partly on how difficult it is to manufacture its products and partly on the volume of demand, since many costs are fixed. Small companies can compete successfully with large ones by focusing on a small number of products, or some highly technical ones.

Full Industry Overview For Automobile Parts and Accessories Manufacture

Automobile Parts and Accessories Manufacture Industry Forecast

from Hoover's/D&B subsidiary First Research

The output of US motor vehicle parts manufacturing is forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of 6.5 percent between 2008 and 2013.

Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing Growth Recovers

First Research forecasts are based on INFORUM forecasts that are licensed from the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. (IERF) in College Park, MD. INFORUM's "interindustry-macro" approach to modeling the economy captures the links between industries and the aggregate economy.