The cuts represent about 10% of Bosch’s total workforce in the country, and 3% of its staff worldwide. Workers’ representatives vowed to resist the cuts, labelling them ‘unprecedented.’
German industrial giant Bosch said Thursday, September 25, it would cut 13,000 jobs, mostly in its auto unit, in the latest blow for the country’s ailing car sector.
The auto industry in Europe’s biggest economy has been hammered by fierce competition in key market China, weak demand and a slower than expected shift to electric vehicles.
The cuts, all of which will take place in Germany, represent about 10% of Bosch’s total workforce in the country, and 3% of its staff worldwide.
Bosch − the world’s biggest auto supplier, making everything from braking and steering systems to sensors − said the layoffs were needed to help make annual savings of €2.5 billion in the group’s car unit.
I didn’t even realize Bosch was involved with autos, but apparently:
Bosch − the world’s biggest auto supplier, making everything from braking and steering systems to sensors
They’re huge. And a significant part of their portfolio is specific to combustion engines.
I see, hence the layoffs.
Here’s a short reminder that one of the major causes why Hitler got into power was because there was an unemployment crisis in germany and hitler promised to give the people jobs.
Unemployment crises can be a major crisis, people shouldn’t underestimate this.
I am advocating for human spaceflight and mars settlement mostly because it would generate jobs and give people something to do; hopefully enough to distract them from destroying the world.
A friend of mine is a higher up and checks the numbers of plants and their productions. They found out that for certain plants numbers were not verifiable. They saw this coming. There is mismanagement in plants here, and plants that don’t really make anything, but try to fake their numbers. But we’re talking about plants that technically have good potential either, but have the wrong focus, at least that’s what my friend believes. I’m not surprised this happened.
I’m keeping this message intentionally vague to protect my friend.
Good, German cars are quite terrible given their reputation.
I quickly looked it up and i saw a report that bosh received almost a billion in subsidies, not sure which time period tho. And it said the company had 2024 3,4 billion in profit.
so i assumr they will have to pay that money back now 🙃🙃
You know, they could just give this money to the people instead so they consume products and thereby stimulate the economy.
I hate paying 5x for a German-made Bosch spare part for my car when I’m tired of the AliExpress quality lottery but I have to admit it’s one of the few hardware manufacturers I still think pretty highly of. They make Dremels too, right? I imported one of those at an extortionate price and haven’t regretted a single penny, reminds me of how old durable tools were built to actually last.
When I was a kid and you picked up something with a (for example) Sony logo on it, you know you were holding something that was at least relatively well made. Nowadays pretty much every single company gives me marrow-sucking quality-be-damned vibes. And come to think of it Bosch was not one of the companies I saw that way.
Disgusting how they’re treating their workers (who I’m assuming are damn good at their job given how highly I think of Bosch’s stuff), but someone still needs to be doing that job.
I had their lawnmower and a vacuum and they were both pretty crappy.
I have their mower and vacuum, they’re decent for what amount of plastic they’re made of. The thing that keeps me switching from Bosch is their sparepart catalogue, one of the only brands that have ALL the spare parts for said vacuum. Why buy new when I can fix the old one?
Keep making those bike motors Mr. Bosch.
I only know them for tools.
You mean all of us average earners aren’t buying $80,000 electric cars in droves during this time of insane inflation? Weird!
Not sure that would help that much. A good amount of Bosch’s business is in manufacturing parts for internal combustion engines, that’s going away in any case.
China actually has electric cars with 300km range for under $20k.
We’re not allowed to buy them in the West because it would show us all how much we’re getting ripped off by our rulers.
We really are stupid and paying the price everyday.
There’s more to this than JUST that. Not that you’re wrong of course.
China subsidizes heavily because they want to be the only relevant player in the global EV market. These cars would cost closer to their non-Chinese counterparts if China wasn’t doing this.
In global economics, this is considered unfair, and is usually retaliated against via tariffs.
China subsidizes heavily because they want to be the only relevant player in the global EV market. These cars would cost closer to their non-Chinese counterparts if China wasn’t doing this.
In global economics, this is considered unfair, and is usually retaliated against via tariffs.
To be fair, everyone should subsidize their production. That makes products cheaper for everyone and life better for everyone.
The way i see it, the fact that this is considered unfair is the problem. We should be doing the same thing instead of bashing against that.
We could subsidize our production for example by giving people cheaper housing, so they can afford to earn less in their jobs which makes labor cheaper and therefore companies more competitive.
To be fair, everyone should subsidize their production. That makes products cheaper for everyone and life better for everyone.
If you subsidize everything, you have to raise taxes on everyone. Makes it a zero sum thing.
You subsidize particular industries where you need growth. Most of the western world does not want more cars on the roads, they want more people to use public transit, hence no automotive subsidies in most European countries. And we DO have EV subsidies in a lot of countries! But we don’t have them just for European manufacturers - rather, we treat all manufacturers equally for EV subsidies, because it’s generally the buyer who gets the subsidy. EU car manufacturers still need to be profitable on the cars they sell, whereas the Chinese manufacturers can make money by selling cars for less than they cost to make (and we’ve in fact all paid for it already, since Chinese tax money comes largely from shit they’ve sold to the west).
USA is different, they want more cars on the road, but they also want all the cars to be American, so they do subsidies (or at least have done before) AND tariffs. That’s just protectionism and sucks for consumers. If you’re subsidizing your local industry, there’s no reason to also tariff foreign industries, unless you want to limit consumer choice on purpose.
Ok so from what i could see in your comment, you’re arguing very much from the point of view of macroeconomics. Your explanation feels like textbooks macroeconomics, at least to me.
The issue i have with your stance is that it’s all too much focused on economics (who produces cars and sells them and such), but geopolitics is not just about economics. Not at all, in fact. Ultimately, if we want to have a future, we will have to live with our neighbors for a very long time. (The future is a very long time). To do this, we need to be on good terms with the other countries. What i’m not seeing in your comment is how this thought flows into your text. Where is the relationship between countries reflected in the market situation? Where is the trade relationship based on a mutual understanding of mutual interests? Where is the equality in the game?
I think that macroeconomics must be a side aspect of geopolitical contemplations, in other words, countries should strive to balance their trade relationship not for economic prosperity or necessity, but instead to respect international balances. That is not “protectionism”, it’s just making sure that the market isn’t in eternal turmoil because of a series of disruptions from aggressive competitors.
Whether you subsidize the companies in your country or not is ultimately a choice that every country makes for themselves. It should also be noted that a lot of subsidies are very indirect, so it’s difficult to say whether you’re even subsidizing the auto industry or whether you’re subsidizing your mining industry or your housing economy. Like, if you provide cheaper housing to your citizens, that lowers the cost of living, which means people can afford to earn less and still live well, which means companies can pay lower wages, which makes companies more competitive. Is this a subsidy to the auto industry or not? It’s hard to say. Ultimately what countries must agree on is international relationships, while internal affairs are ultimately a choice that every country makes for themselves.
You’re right that this is geopolitical too: China is on the offensive. They’re trying to ensure the west (EU at least - USA is going to end itself anyway and Canada is too small to count on its own) is completely dependent on them. I’m of the opinion that countries should try to get along without one of them forcing the others into submission. But China is not being a diplomatic or trade partner in good faith.
As it is, I think it’s fair to tariff them where they’re trying to attack us specifically. There are also a lot of industries we’ve already lost because of the cost of labor here vs there - I don’t see any need to tariff those, I’m not Trump. I just want to see Europe protect the industries it’s still good at because otherwise we’ll be completely broke in a few decades if we have neither goods nor services to sell. Or we may all have to live like the Chinese do - get rid of some workers rights, reduce wages, etc - to stay competitive. Maybe start doing the 996 work schedule?
Why wouldn’t we let them in too drain the Chinese economy then. We would “win” in the short term by getting vehicles with fewer emissions while siphoning money out of the Chinese economy. Later when they could no longer afford to offer the vehicles at such a low price another company would step in with a superior product. At least that’s what I’ve been taught about how capitalism works. Was that all a lie?
The Chinese government can afford to pay their manufacturers 10-20k euros per car indefinitely, there’s no real limit to how much money they have. They’ll continue until every western manufacturer is bankrupt.
Later when they could no longer afford to offer the vehicles at such a low price another company would step in with a superior product. At least that’s what I’ve been taught about how capitalism works. Was that all a lie?
I know you probably realize this, but no. It’s not how capitalism works in the real world. In the real world, when you have products that cost billions to develop before production, it’s nearly impossible for a new company to be competitive against a monopoly. And if the Chinese give away semi-free cars to everyone for a decade, everyone else goes bankrupt and they have a monopoly. OR other countries start sacrificing other budget items so they could subsidize their domestic car manufacturing and we just have… even more cars on the roads and less public transit, less walkable cities. Yay!
The situation is a lot more complicated than that. On big enough scales (globally), it’s not actually about the money at all. The countries can literally just print arbitrary amounts of paper money, so money is no concern at all.
What is a concern, however, is everything else. There’s jobs, the way that countries perform on the international stage (geopolitical aspects), future prospects, people’s quality of life, and much much more. All of that matters and is not really mapped to economic numbers such as money. That’s why these micro-economic attempts fail when trying to apply them to the global level.
It’s a complex subject, right? From a consumer’s perspective, you could have a cheaper car, but your government won’t let you (by putting tariffs on them, or just straightout banning them) because China is not playing fair. As a consumer you are paying a price because of your ideology. I don’t know if everyone will want to do that.
And on the other hand, from the Chinese government’s perspective, they aren’t going to care if you think they are fair, as long as things are working out for them. If subsidizing means better product and/or markat dominance, why won’t they keep doing that? There are markets that are more ideologically aligned with them willing to take their products.
So what? Their economic model is able to churn out better product at lower prices, and the useful idiots in the West (you) cheer because you get worse deals.
I don’t care what “global economics” says. Have you seen the global economy? Do you think you’re a player, or just another pawn (useful idiot)?
Now, run along and go be average somewhere else. I’m genuinely tired of arguing with you people.
Subsidies designed to bankrupt the competition isn’t a better economic model
If these subsidies work so well, why don’t we use them too?
You’d have a point if the West could churn out competitive EVs.
Gonna block you now. I’m sick of stupid people and it’s a shame how many morons agree with you.
More reasons for me not to take the crowd seriously!
The west churns out BETTER EVs in many metrics. They just cost more because they’re not subsidized.
If we allow the Chinese to bankrupt every other manufacturer using subsidies, guess what, they’ll hike the prices 2-3x at least.
This is because at least here in the EU, governments want more people to use transit and fewer new cars to be sold, so they won’t subsidize domestic car production. We even got a brand new car registration tax here as well as an annual road tax here in Estonia, do you consider that a bad thing too? Since it negatively impacts people’s ability to buy more new cars…
Maybe understand the very basics of trade wars first lol
They’re that cheap because the chinese government pays for them to be that cheap. It also helps that they exploit their workforce as much as possible, but they still wouldn’t be as cheap as they are without the subsidies.
Oh my fucking god, it never ends with you morons.
So what if the chinese government pays for them to be cheap? Government intervention is literally part of their econony.
You, in typical dipshit fashion, don’t recognize how you’ve been convinced to hate them simply because they can compete with your rulers.
Instead of recognizing how you’re being played for a fool, you double and triple-down with all the other useful idiots.
I’m glad I can see it for what it is, because most of you are genuinely to stupid enough to do so yourselves.
Ignored.
There was no value judgement in mine (or the other guys) comment, that’s entirely your victim complex. Of course I would rather china not try to destroy our local markets but that is very very low on the list of things to hate the ccp for and I can’t say it’s fundamentally morally wrong in the world we live in either.
It’s just a fact that it’s subsidized and your propaganda that it’s cheap because china is just better at manufacturing is a flat out lie.
I need more range than 300km and I’d be all over this if it uses LifeP04 batteries. I work 48 hour shifts, but drive about 150km each direction. Which means during the winter if I wanted to round trip it I’d need a 400km range vehicle.
Hope you gain the ability to charge for those 48 hours, seems like it would open your options
It would, but right now that’s pretty much not possible.
Those cars are 20k because the majority of chinese blue collar workers are treated like 19th century coal miners, with few labor laws or regulations to speak of.
We get cheap shit because of their suffering.
Did you know that the US has the highest percentage of people locked up in prison worldwide?
Did you know that the US still uses forced labor for a lot of production, including and especially agricultural production?
Where is the bashing of American products? Where is the proportionality in the discussion?
so that’s acceptable with, (checks notes), every other Chinese made product sold in NA and Europe but not EVs… no sir, we car aboot those EV workers a lot
Same is true of almost everything you own, large groups of people stuck in poverty isn’t an accident, it’s on purpose and it’s everywhere in this world sadly
You’re peddling talking points that exist to ensure you can’t a better deal due to lack of competition and artificially inflated prices.
Have you ever had a banana? Guess why they’re so cheap. We still get access to them and useful idiots like you don’t complain because the banana market doesn’t threaten the wealth of people richer than you can comprehend.
This is the problem, right here folks. Think tanks have been working overtime to make sure people like /u/whatamlemmy can feel justified in being cut off from more competitive markets.
insulting people is mostly a bad idea; including in this case.
Don’t people complain about the inhumane conditions and treatment of the laborers by banana companies all the time? lol
No, they don’t.
They also don’t block importing them to the US.
The working conditions for the average banana farmer is also significantly worse than the average Chinese car manufacturers.
>No, they don’t
It’s a topic that I’ve seen pop up countless number of times
I’m not going to sit here and debate with you what “all the time” is supposed to mean.
They also don’t block importing them to the US.
Conveniently ignored this part because you don’t have a rebuttal.
The working conditions for the average banana farmer is also significantly worse than the average Chinese car manufacturers.
Also this one.
I’m going to ignore you now because you proved to me that you’re an average idiot and not worth taking seriously. It’s a shame people like you get to have more impact on the world, but that’s why the world is the way it is.
Keep getting ripped off, and keep defending the people doing it. I don’t expect more from you.
Yeah and let’s not even talk about all the clothes people buy that end up in landfills. Created by workers in horrible working conditions.
On the other hand these probably have some kill switch integretated in them. Or some way to control them at some point which China could use as leverage.
Meanwhile tesla is regularly in the news about cutting off people’s auto drive over payment issues or forcing software updates while the car is in motion lol
Also shitty and one more reason to buy a stupid car rather than some sort of surveillance truck with hundreds of sensors and cameras.
You do have the Renault 4 and 5 that are reasonably priced. And I think Fiat also has a reasonably priced model.
I wouldn’t call that reasonable pricing, for what I can get it in my country. €28k - some subsidies is double what I’ve paid for a substantially bigger car 8 years ago. Not to mention that pretty low range that resets to garbage in winter months.
We’re fairly limited in North America, unfortunately.
TIL Robert Bosch was an upstanding guy (and, according to workers’ representatives, would be “rotating in his grave”). Also there used to exist an organisation in the US called The Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor that he was a member of. Someone revive that Order.
That’s Bosch from the popular Amazon TV show, the Bosch you’re thinking of is the clown that says “Honk Honk!” when telling a joke.
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What about the famous German workers protection laws and unions I keep hearing about
Friend of Mine got let go over one these kind of layoffs. He had half he year where he stayed at home while still recieving his pay check in addition to half a month one time pay for each year worked there. Also he had the choice to accept it.
Let’s compare that to America: Two weeks notice. If you’re lucky.
Nice, in America you are lucky if they pay you for your unused vacation days
Those people no doubt got a very advanced notice, received at least 3 month paycheck, and are able to claim good unemployment benefits for at least 3 month while they looking for a new job.
It’s harder to fire people in most EU countries compared to the US, but layoffs are entirely different. If the employees have reason to think this is unjustified firing rather than true layoffs, they have recourse. They need to provide notice, the jobs need to be cut permanently, and they must be unable to move the employees to other suitable jobs within the company.
In order to avoid said recourse, the company will usually offer a severance package. For example a company I used to work for did a big restructure and the laid off employees got a half months salary for every year they’d been at the company + 2 months paid leave
This is actually good news. Now these folks can work on making trains for each state!
Germany needs more trains, not cars.
Germany needs the trains they have to be reliable
