The company succeeded in increasing revenue by approximately ten per cent last year. Earnings also further improved. Including extraordinary effects, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose to around €5bn. Adjusted for extraordinary effects, earnings totaled roughly €4.5bn. EBIT margin from operations was approximately 6.5 per cent, which is higher than the previous year when calculated on a comparable basis. Equity ratio remains sound and liquidity remains high despite the billions spent on the acquisitions of BSH Hausgeräte GmbH and Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH.
In particular, connectivity over the internet of things is currently transforming Bosch’s business, in some cases at a fundamental level. Bosch is the only company worldwide that is active on all three levels of the internet of things. The Bosch Group offers key technologies that enable connectivity such as sensors and software, and is also developing new services on this basis.