Bosch says it has applied for more patent registrations last year than ever before – the majority of the 2,622 original applications coming from its Automotive Technology division. Petrol injection, chassis and diesel systems as well as automotive electronics were to the fore.

“The large number of applications underlines the supreme technological position held by Bosch,” said Bertram Huber, head of its corporate licensing, patents and trademark department. "We apply for the largest number of patents in the field of automotive technology in Germany, Europe and the United States. In Japan, we are by far the largest foreign patent submitter."