site.btaBosch Engineering Center Sofia to Cease Operations by Mid-2027

The German company Bosch will cease operations at its Engineering Center in Sofia starting mid-2027, with the restructuring affecting approximately 670 employees. About 400 jobs will be cut as early as 2026, and the remaining positions will be optimized by mid-2027, the company announced.

The decision is part of a global consolidation of Bosch's engineering operations, driven by ongoing structural changes in the automotive industry. The company notes that the sector faces unprecedented challenges related to the decline in automotive production, shifting customer requirements, the fundamental transformation of technologies and the market environment, as well as a shift in demand toward markets outside Europe. Additional factors cited include the lack of a sufficiently clear regulatory framework for technologies such as hydrogen, the slower adoption of electric mobility and automated driving, as well as high costs and increased competitive pressure. These conditions require adjustments to the company's global presence so that its engineering capacity aligns with current and anticipated market needs.

"The automotive industry is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history. Adapting to this new reality requires us to make strategic and sometimes difficult decisions. This restructuring is an essential step toward ensuring Bosch's long-term competitiveness and sustainability in a rapidly evolving market environment," said Dan Lazarescu, General Manager of Robert Bosch GmbH and representative of Bosch Group in Bulgaria.

The company emphasized that the process will be managed with the utmost social responsibility and in close cooperation with local institutions.

Bosch added that it remains committed to its presence in Bulgaria, where it has been operating for more than 30 years. After the discontinuation of operations at the Bosch Engineering Center in Sofia, the company will continue to develop its business in Bulgaria through its automotive equipment, power tools, Home Comfort, and building technology divisions within Robert Bosch GmbH, as well as through BSH Home Appliances Bulgaria and Bosch Digital.

"Even as we consolidate our engineering operations, Bosch remains committed to Bulgaria as an important market. Our employees responsible for sales, service, and training will continue to be a trusted partner for customers, delivering the quality and reliability they expect from Bosch," Lazarescu added.

According to company data, as of the end of 2025, Bosch had over 1,000 employees in Bulgaria, including those in non-consolidated subsidiaries, and generated revenue of EUR 196 million (BGN 383 million) in the Bulgarian market.