Bosch secures major order from Mercedes-Benz for electric motors

Unlike other Bosch customers, the order from Mercedes-Benz does not involve complete e-axles comprising an electric motor, power electronics and transmission as a fully integrated drive unit. Instead, Mercedes-Benz will source only the electric motors themselves from Bosch, combining them with its own drive units. Mercedes-Benz is already adopting this approach, for example, with the all-electric CLA, where its proprietary ATS 2.0 drive unit is fitted at the rear axle, while all-wheel-drive variants additionally feature a supplier’s electric motor at the front axle.For Bosch, this remains a significant order. The company has recently been facing job cuts, and urgently needs high-volume contracts—preferably in the growing electromobility market rather than in the legacy internal combustion engine business.“The new order reaffirms our long-standing partnership with Mercedes-Benz and shows that we can successfully contribute our expertise to technologically demanding projects as well,” says Markus Heyn, Bosch Executive Director and Chairman of Bosch Mobility.Bosch has not disclosed which specific electric motors Mercedes-Benz will source, but emphasises that motors across various power classes will be supplied. The company highlights that its electric motors achieve an exceptionally high efficiency of up to 98 per cent while simultaneously increasing power density. A key factor in this is its new winding technology that enhances power density, reduces weight and provides greater flexibility in the design of electric motors.Additionally, Bosch’s electric motors are equipped with a special rotor oil-cooling system that optimally dissipates heat. Another advantage lies in the scalable platform architecture, whereby the electric motor’s length can be adjusted according to the required power output, allowing it to be integrated into various axle variants with minimal effort.According to Bosch’s product information, a range of electric motors with power outputs of up to 500 kW and available torque of up to 1,000 Nm. The voltage range of these motors spans from 400 to 850 volts.The supplier also emphasises that it currently supplies technology and solutions for electromobility to more than 50 automotive manufacturers worldwide. By 2026, the company plans to produce over seven million components for electric driving. Globally, Bosch currently produces around seven electric motors per minute, according to the company.bosch-presse.de