By Lynn Omar, Business Times

August 18, 2010

GLOBAL power tools and accessories giant Robert Bosch is targeting 40 per cent sales growth in Malaysia this year with its new Southeast Asian research and development (R&D) hub in Penang.

Robert Bosch (M) Bhd president and managing director Cem Peksaglam said sales here had grown 40 per cent in the first half of the year.

"Last year was difficult for both our Malaysian division and the group itself, but the recovery has been fast so far.

"The R&D hub is a testament to this rapid turnaround," Peksaglam told reporters at a press conference in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

The R&D department was established within Bosch car multimedia division's plant in Penang earlier this month. It will focus on the development of navigation and radio systems as well as electrical and electronic components.

Peksaglam said it wanted to establish a strong presence in the car infotainment sector with next generation multimedia devices complete with applications such as GPS navigation and Bluetooth connectivity interfaces.

Bosch car multimedia division's plant is the first to manufacture these devices in the country. Initial production at the plant started in April.