Bosch to open 100 showrooms in next two yrs

Chennai: Bosch, the world's leading manufacturer of automotive components and leader in industrial technology, announced expanding its business operations in India by opening more than 100 exclusive Bosch System Speciality Showrooms (BSS), a new concept in power tool market, across the country in the next two years.

'The shortlisted authorised dealers would be investing from Rs 5 lakh to 30 lakh for the BSS exclusive outlets depending upon the showroom size', Bosch Power Tools Division Country Head Vijay Pandey said.

He said that of the planned total, 12 BSS outlets would come up in South India alone. 'We are also planning to establish BSS outlets in Tier-II cities of the country by 2010'.

Pandey said the company would authorise select dealers from their list to set up BSS.

'We are in the process of selecting dealers from our list. The selection process is based on stringent rules and regulations, which will be imposed on them for setting up the showrooms,on par with international standards', he added.

'More than 150 types of power tool products would be sold in these BSS', he said adding that the BSS dealers would also ensure best services after sales.

Pandey, who was here to inagurate a new BSS outlet, said 'we have initially fixed a target of minimum Rs eight lakh sales turnover per year for each new BSS'.

Referring to the expansion plans of the company, Pandey said Bosch plans to expand its Bangalore unit to produce indigenous industrial power tools on par with international standards.

'Currently we are importing certain industrial power tools. In order to produce indigenous industrial power tools, we plan to import high-tech motor line machinery from Germany', he said.

The company also plans to manufacture its indigenous new 'Blower', an industrial cleaning material, in its plant for export, he added.

'Currently we are exporting a few thousands to international markets', he said adding 'once we stablise, the company plans to export more than one lakh such blowers in the next two years'.

On Research and Development, he said the company was currently spending about seven to eight per cent for R&D from its total turnover.