The Chevy Bolt will be joined by two dozen other GM battery-electric vehicles by 2023.
Sales of battery electric vehicles are growing steadily and impressively, according to a key executive at Robert Bosch Gmbh, one of the world’s top automotive suppliers.
Sujit Jain, Bosch Group regional president, Passenger Cars and Electric Vehicles, Powertrain Solutions Division, noted the market share of battery electric vehicles has steadily grown in the U.S. since 2013, reaching nearly 1%.
On the surface, the number appears small, but the rate of growth has been impressive with EV sales possibly reaching 1.5% this year, Jain said after a presentation at the Bosch Mobility Experience at the company’s North American test track in suburban Detroit.
Jain noted the Chevrolet Bolt EV has become a substantial success. “They can’t build enough of them,” he said.
(Musk strikes back after tough review of the Model 3. Click Here for the story.)
Nissan's Leaf got a makeover and more range for 2018.
in addition, while Consumer Reports criticized the brakes in the Tesla Model 3, CR review was very impressed by the vehicle’s range of more than 300 miles. Tesla can fix the problem with brakes – the stopping distance was too long in Consumer Reports tests – but the range was very impressive and means that the EV makers are coming closer than ever before to overcoming range anxiety.
The Nissan Leaf EV is also a very good vehicle with the latest iteration featuring a more mainstream exterior styling and nearly doubling its range. Meanwhile, car makers from around the world are expected to introduce 30 new EV models in the U.S. by 2022.
Jain noted that as of Jan. 1, Bosch had combined all of its powertrain units into one group to enhance its service to customers, who are trying to decide how best to meet diverse challenges around fuel-economy, performance and emissions.
Demand for internal combustion engines, including various diesel applications, will remain very, very important for the foreseeable future, he added.
The Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA made its debut at last autumn's Frankfurt Motor Show and is the inspiration for the maker's new EV.
(Click Here for more about how gas prices continue rising in the U.S.)
But the future of hybrid powertrain applications remains a bit uncertain. Hybrid market share has been stuck at about 2.5% in recent years and the outlook for growth remains uncertain, Jain said.
Bosch is widely regarded as one of the world’s most important automotive suppliers. It does business with every automaker in the world and components it makes, such as sensors and fuel injectors, are found on virtually every vehicle manufactured in the U.S.
Bosch is aiming for further growth in 2018, despite the difficult economic climate. After achieving record results in 2017, and in light of economic and geopolitical risks, the Bosch Group expects its sales revenue to grow by 2% to 3% in 2018.
In the first three months, the sales revenue generated by the company matched the high level of the same period of the previous year, and even increased by around 5% when adjusted for exchange-rate effects.
(To see more about Mercedes tooling up French plant to take on Tesla Model 3, Click Here.)
“Our company is unequaled when it comes to combining comprehensive connectivity expertise with broad industry and product know-how. This is the Bosch Group’s unique selling proposition,” said Bosch CEO Volkmar Denner said during a recent press conference.