Stable order book at Eger and Maklár Bosch plants

– How do you see the present state of the automotive industry and what are you expecting for the coming years?
Michael Zink (in the lead photo): – Most prognoses for the next few years do not envisage growth, and this naturally affects us too, but we are looking at stable and – at present – predictable years within the industry.
Stefan Basso: – The Eger and Maklár plants have good prospects for production in 2020. We will be making new products and selling them to new customers. We are planning to ramp up production, but we have to bear in mind that the market outlook is uncertain in Europe and in China, so we have to plan cautiously.

– What are the grounds for this stable outlook?
Michael Zink: – We have something that always helps us maintain our market position. We are constantly coming out with innovations that provide solid foundations for the future. Among these are the truck steering gear developments here in Heves county. Bosch is constantly receiving feedback from its customers about its market-leading technology, which gives a considerable boost to this development work.
Stefan Basso: – It is not enough for us to be simply a factory that manufactures steering gear for cars and trucks. Innovation is always very important. This allows us to provide more than what our competitors do at all times.

The Eger and Maklár plants have good prospects for production in 2020.

– How do automotive megatrends affect the Heves county plants?
Stefan Basso: – The changes in the automotive industry, particularly the rise of electric drivetrains, do not have a negative effect on the Eger and Maklár plants, because steering gear is needed for all types of drivetrains. In addition, we make steering gear and related parts for trucks as well as passenger cars. We also deliver to the premium segment, and this gives us valuable experience regarding autonomous cars, because it is in the premium segment where they make their appearance first. Electric steering gear has been part of the company’s portfolio alongside hydraulic systems since 2012, and they are made in Maklár. Electric steering is required in vehicles with high levels of autonomy, and is now frequently fitted into models marketed with adaptive cruise control. Involvement in this growing segment of the market provides stability for the plant.

– What changes to steering systems are required for self-driving functions?
Michael Zink: – The main thing is that highly automated and fully autonomous cars will greatly improve road safety. One increased requirement to the steering system is to be failure free. In this respect, autonomous vehicles are similar to aircraft. Redundant systems ensure that if something fails, there is an alternative unit that takes over the function until the car stops safely, thus preventing any hazard to other travellers.
In addition, the development of Steer by Wire Steering systems, where we have no connection between the steering wheel and the wheels, is also progressing.
In full, level-five autonomy the car is in complete control, and all passengers can read a newspaper if they like. This demands a new way of thinking that is a great challenge to us, both in terms of manufacturing and software development.

Stefan Basso

– When will the manufacturing operation here start making the products necessary for autonomous vehicles?
Michael Zink: – This technology will not leap forward from one day to the next. Anybody who drives a new car already has access to several functions that will be required by autonomous cars. Some cars already feature collision prevention systems. Another such function is adaptive cruise control. These enhance both driving comfort and safety. Technologies bringing us closer to fully autonomous cars are constantly appearing in our manufacturing production operation.
Stefan Basso: – The technical capabilities for autonomous cars have already arrived, but the legal regulation is some ways behind. In Europe, for example, current regulation does not allow the steering wheel to be released for more than ten seconds while the vehicle is in motion. In that time, the lane keeping assistant warns the driver to put their hand on the wheel and make a little movement that the system can sense. A higher level of regulatory environment for autonomous cars may be created in the United States of China, and it might not be far away. The regulatory authorities in Europe might take longer to decide on authorising autonomous cars. There is much discussion about levels four and five of autonomy, but much less on how the cars will make up a network, which will be needed for a great number of functions. A car must react to every situation that occurs in its vicinity. There may be a role here for artificial intelligence, which could provide solutions for a great number of problems. Cars must react to traffic situations similarly how people do. A few years will have to pass before we will have satisfactory ways of achieving this.
Michael Zink: – Autonomous parking is something that already exists, and there is an example in a multi-storey car park in Stuttgart. Before we have fully autonomous cars, partial solutions of this kind are likely to be implemented first, even in Budapest, which will provide an experience essential for subsequent development work.