Bosch Engineering Center Sofia Closure to Impact 670 Jobs by 2027

Robert Bosch GmbH has announced that it will close its Engineering Center in Sofia by the middle of 2027 as part of a broader effort to optimize its global engineering footprint. The move is intended to better align engineering capacity with current and anticipated market demand across the automotive sector. Around 670 employees will be affected, with approximately 400 positions scheduled to be reduced during 2026 and the remaining roles phased out by mid-2027. The company stated that this restructuring reflects changes taking place across the global automotive industry while preserving the technical scope of its wider business operations.

The decision follows continued challenges affecting the automotive market worldwide. These include declining vehicle production volumes, evolving customer requirements, slower-than-expected adoption of technologies such as electromobility, automated driving, and hydrogen solutions, together with increasing competitive intensity and sustained pricing pressures. According to Bosch, these factors have made it necessary to rebalance development resources across its global network while ensuring that future engineering investments remain aligned with market realities and long-term business priorities.

Although the engineering facility in Bulgaria will be closed, Bosch emphasized that the country will continue to play an important role within its global operations. The company confirmed that it will maintain local sales, customer service, and training activities supporting Mobility Aftermarket, Power Tools, Home Comfort, Building Technology, and Bosch Home Appliances (BSH). In addition, Bosch Digital will continue providing digital solutions for the wider Bosch Group from Bulgaria, reinforcing the company's ongoing business presence in the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Bosch closing its Engineering Center in Sofia?
Bosch is closing its Engineering Center in Sofia to better align its global engineering capacity with current and future market demand. The company cited declining vehicle production, changing customer requirements, slower adoption of electromobility, automated driving and hydrogen technologies, along with growing competitive and pricing pressures across the automotive industry. The closure forms part of a broader global restructuring strategy and is scheduled to be completed by mid-2027 while maintaining other business operations in Bulgaria.