Bosch Commends Department of Transportation and NHTSA Initiatives to Accelerate Safety and Autonomous Vehicle Technologies

January 20, 2016 | By Business Wire News

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.

Robert Bosch LLC, a leading global supplier of mobility technology and services, applauds recent decisions by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding autonomous and connected driving, and improved vehicle safety testing.

Both decisions – NHTSA enhancing its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), and the DOT initiatives that encourage investment in automated and connected vehicle pilot projects while removing potential roadblocks to the integration of automotive technology that can improve safety, mobility and sustainability – support Bosch’s goal of completely eradicating road accidents.

“Bosch commends NHTSA and the DOT for their leadership on this topic and will continue to stand as a strong supporter of the proliferation of safety technologies that bring great benefit to society,” said Mike Mansuetti, president, Robert Bosch LLC. “Bringing light to these life-saving technologies has been a long-sought-after objective of Bosch, and we are proud to be a partner in this tremendous step forward.”

New NCAP update enhances vehicle safety

NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) provides comparative new vehicle safety information to assist consumers with purchasing decisions and encourages manufacturers to improve vehicle safety. In order to keep pace with advancements in occupant protection and the introduction of advanced vehicle technologies, the enhanced NCAP places a focus on crash avoidance, pedestrian detection, avoidance and protection, crash dummy changes used during testing, as well as a new oblique crash test.

As part of Bosch’s “Invented for life” mantra and vision of its founder, Robert Bosch, the company remains committed to ensuring safety technology is available across all makes and models. One example of this is Bosch’s automatic emergency braking (AEB) technology, which can help prevent up to 74 percent of all rear-end collisions in the United States alone.

Autonomous and connected technologies lead to a safer road

In addition to the recent NHTSA changes promoting safety technology, the DOT is making an effort to accelerate the adoption of advanced vehicle technology, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication, resulting in significant reduction of traffic fatalities and injuries, according to the Intelligent Transportation Society of America.

DOT’s proposed $4 billion investment over the span of 10 years will be used for automated and connected vehicle pilot projects that test connected vehicle systems in designated corridors throughout the country, and work with industry leaders to ensure a common multistate framework for connected and autonomous vehicles.

These technologies will save thousands of lives each year and bring the industry closer to the common goal of zero deaths on America’s roads. From advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to automated technology, the positive impact on crashes is significant. For example, ADAS have the potential to prevent 30 percent of all crashes, and together with autonomous technology, could reduce crashes and their associated cost to society by 90 percent, according to research from Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and The Boston Consulting Group.

Bosch participates in education for advanced safety technologies

As part of its continued education effort around safe technologies for the road, Bosch will present at the SAE 2016 Government/Industry Conference. Frank Sgambati, director of marketing & product planning for Chassis Systems Control in North America, Robert Bosch LLC, will present Jan. 20 as part of the Crash Avoidance Safety Ratings technical session.

In addition to industry efforts, consumers can access more information from NHTSA to understand these technologies and how they will assist in driving situations. To learn more about vehicle safety technologies, visit www.safercar.gov.

About Bosch

Having established a regional presence in 1906 in North America, the Bosch Group employs some 28,700 associates in more than 100 locations, as of April 1, 2015. In 2014, Bosch generated consolidated sales of $11.3 billion in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit www.boschusa.com, www.bosch.com.mx and www.bosch.ca.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 360,000 associates worldwide (as per April 1, 2015). The company generated sales of 49 billion euros in 2014.* Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiary and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including its sales and service partners, Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. In 2014, Bosch applied for some 4,600 patents worldwide. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to create solutions for a connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.”

Exchange rate: 1 EUR = $1.32850

*The sales figure disclosed for 2014 does not include the former joint ventures BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH (now BSH Hausgeräte GmbH) and ZF Lenksysteme GmbH (now Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH), which have since been taken over completely.