Now, living in Portugal and witnessing the company’s immense impact here, I find myself appreciating its influence through a much broader lens—one that spans economies, cultures, and strategic transformation.

In Portugal, Bosch is more than just a foreign company operating abroad. With over 6,800 employees, Bosch has embedded itself deeply into the Portuguese industrial landscape. Its growth in 2024—a 14.3% increase in sales to €2.4 billion—is not just a financial achievement. It is a reflection of Portugal’s rising importance as a strategic hub for advanced technology, innovation, and global exports.

What is truly remarkable is that 97% of Bosch Portugal’s production is exported to over 50 countries, making the company the fifth largest exporter in the nation. Its activities contribute to nearly 1% of Portugal’s GDP, underscoring not just its economic weight but also its role as a driver of international trade. Coming from Germany, a country where exports are central to national identity, it’s fascinating to see Bosch apply the same outward-facing philosophy in Portugal, helping to internationalize the local economy.

Bosch’s success here is not accidental. The company has strategically developed operations in Braga, Aveiro, and Lisbon, each with a distinct industrial focus. In Braga, Bosch is leading a shift from traditional infotainment systems to next-generation mobility technologies—onboard computers, cameras, and sensors essential for connected and autonomous vehicles. Meanwhile, Aveiro is becoming a center for energy-efficient technologies, notably heat pump production, an area gaining relevance as Europe intensifies its energy transition.

In Lisbon, Bosch’s Service Solutions hub is expanding rapidly, bringing in engineers and specialists to support the company’s global operations. Even as it sold its Ovar facility—a move driven by technological transformation and portfolio optimization—it absorbed 150 engineers into its global R&D efforts. This shows how Bosch balances restructuring with long-term investment in knowledge and innovation.

It’s also notable that Bosch’s growth in Portugal comes despite global challenges. While the company’s overall revenue declined by 1.4% in 2024, the Portuguese branch defied the trend. That resilience speaks volumes about the synergy between Bosch’s German heritage of precision and Portugal’s evolving strengths in innovation, adaptability, and skilled human capital.

As someone who has seen Bosch from both sides of the Rhine and now the Atlantic, I see its Portuguese journey as a compelling example of how multinational companies can succeed by investing locally, thinking globally, and continuously adapting to new technologies. Portugal may be a small country, but its role in Bosch’s future feels anything but small. It is a partnership grounded in trust, potential, and shared ambition for what modern industry can achieve.

Author

Paulo Lopes is a multi-talent Portuguese citizen who made his Master of Economics in Switzerland and studied law at Lusófona in Lisbon - CEO of Casaiberia in Lisbon and Algarve.

Paulo Lopes