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49 AutoData | June 2018 He also says that “Latin America conti- nues to be an strategic region for Bosch, and our positive performance reinforces that”. This year Bosch foresees investments of R$ 130 million in its operations in the region especially in the modernization of the assembly lines. In addition to that, there operations has already started there, aside from Brazil, in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Uru- guay and Venezuela. In a global ambit the big challenge for Bosch is to prepare the diesel engines for the new emission rules in Europe, much stricter. One solution has been presented in the last weeks: a new vehicle powered by diesel with emissions equivalent to one-tenth of today’s engines. Besaliel Botelho, president of Robert Bosch Latin America, believes that diesel engines will have their space in the industry one day, even with the advances of electrics, hybrids and of hydrogen cells solutions. The executive understands that the discussion will go through all the electricity production chain – in some countries with charcoal energy production the emissions from the electrics, when all the system is taken into account, may even overcome the ones from diesel motors. For the executive Brazil should realize a separated role in that discussion: although he admits that the hybrid and electric vehicle will possibly have larger presence in the country, especially if contemplated with particular benefits inside Rota 2030, ethanol deserves a more relevant role in our energetic headquarters, he affirms. Revolution for the diesel Disclousure/Bosch Income increased 7% last year compared to 2016. And for this year the projection is to keep the same rhythm. Last year the company invested more than R$ 308 million only in Brazil, being R$ 127 million in modernization of the assem- bly lines and structure, portfolio develo- pment and Industry 4.0, R$ 162 million in R&D, R$ 16 million in environmental pro- jects and R$ 3.8 million in social, cultural and educational projects. According to the president of Bosch fac- tories have been throughmanyadjustments in the last years. The laborwas reduced for 1.6 thousand people - today the company employs 8.3 thousand employees in Brazil and 10 thousand in Latin America. “We have increased productivity, chan- ged the portfolio and we are looking for new businesses in other segments, such as agribusiness. But even in the recession we invested approximately R$ 100 million a year”. For 2018 the expectation is to keep this stable scenario.