Specifically, in the U.S., the federal government has proposed a national program to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and increase corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) target by 5 percent annually for model year 2012 to 2016 that results in a 35.5 mpg average for automaker fleets by 2016. Bosch - the world's largest automotive supplier - develops, manufactures and markets technologies that help enable automakers to meet new emissions and fuel economy standards while continuing to also focus on safety. These technologies, in turn, help consumers protect the environment and save fuel.

"As CAFE and other legislation provides clear targets for the industry to work towards, OEMs and suppliers must link technology roadmaps more closely to accelerate the rate of change and innovation," explained Peter Marks, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Robert Bosch LLC.

Bosch showcased numerous technologies at 'The Drive to 35.5' ride and drive event today in Flat Rock, Mich., to demonstrate its collaboration with automakers in achieving the proposed 35.5 mpg standard. In addition to having approximately 20 demonstration vehicles, several Bosch executives provided insight on the company's latest advancements in powertrain, safety and additional technologies that help lower emissions an save fuel.

Bosch has a strong commitment to research and development, investing $4.3 billion in 2009. Worldwide, more than 25,000 R&D associates are working on technologies to address future industry topics - gradually decreasing oil reserves, increasing mobility, and the resulting demands on vehicle safety.

Ultimately, the company sees the electric vehicle becoming a reality long term and is diligently working to get the electric drive of the future readied for large-scale series production. At the same time, Bosch engineers will do their utmost to further improve the internal-combustion engine for decades to come. Bosch engineers are working to reduce the fuel consumption of gasoline and diesel engines by up to one third.

Moreover, Bosch is making driving even safer. Preventing accidents is just as much a  part of Bosch's strategic focus as protecting the environment. To this end, Bosch is developing customized solutions.

In an effort to quickly reduce emissions and improve fuel economy, Bosch is developing advancements in gasoline and diesel engine technologies to improve the efficiency of the internal combustion engine, as it will remain the dominant powertrain for the next 20 years. Specifically, the company is focused on developing new combustion processes and highly precise injection technology. Bosch's second generation gasoline direct injection technology paired with turbocharging technology, allows for the production of smaller displacement engines while achieving the same output, consuming less fuel and producing fewer emissions. Gasoline direct injection with turbocharging enables both the reduction of CO2 emissions and fuel consumption, each by up to 18 percent. Bosch's gasoline direct injection technology was showcased at the track in the 2010 Lincoln MKT, 2010 Lincoln MKS, 2010 Ford Flex, 2009 Volkswagen CC2.0T, 2009 Volkswagen GLI 2.0L FSI Turbo and the 2009 Audi A4.

The company's diesel common rail system, powered by piezo-inline technology, dramatically improves performance while providing an environmentally sound solution in today's vehicle. Bosch's emission-reducing diesel engine technology includes high-pressure common rail and unit injector systems that increase fuel economy up to 30 percent, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 25 percent and increase torque by 50 percent as compared to a traditional port fuel injection engine. Also, Bosch's Denoxtronic reduction agent with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) helps reduce nitrous oxide (NOx) by up to 85 percent and increases fuel efficiency by up to 5 percent. Future generations of Bosch's clean diesel technology will enable the development of a mid-class diesel vehicle capable of achieving 80 mpg with CO2 emissions under 99 grams per kilometer. Bosch's clean diesel technology was demonstrated at the track in the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, 2009 Audi Q7 TDI, 2010 Mercedes ML350 BlueTEC and the 2009 BMW X5d.

Bosch's current development activities within hybrid systems include mild, strong and plug-ins and electric vehicle. The company's extensive powertrain expertise enabled the development of a variety of components key to the advancement of hybrid vehicles. Bosch's hybrid technology will go into series production in 2010.

The supplier's experience with the hybrid drive is the optimum starting point on the road to the electric car. Bosch is actively working on powertrain electrification, and increases its activities in this area through SB LiMotive, the company's joint venture with Samsung SDI. With the recent purchase of Cobasys, SB LiMotive has established a footprint in North America, which will help accelerate the development of lithium-ion battery technology for the local market. New battery technology is set to be ready for series production in 2011.

Additional technologies can assist in improving fuel economy while reducing emissions including the Bosch Start/Stop system, which allows the vehicle to shut down when at a standstill; helps increase fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions. Depending on the circumstances, this technology can result in up to 8 percent in savings. Also, Bosch's high-efficiency generator (HEG), which charges the battery and powers a vehicle's electric system when the engine is running, allows for further CO2 and fuel consumption reduction by up to 2 percent. Both systems provide an excellent cost-benefit ratio, as they can easily be integrated into existing systems.

Bosch is developing several advanced safety systems that contribute to passenger safety and fuel economy, which are especially important as the market transitions to smaller, lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Bosch's adaptive cruise control (ACC) with Stop & Go technology is being showcased at the event, demonstrating its potential fuel savings of up to 10 percent through automatically adjusting acceleration, deceleration and braking in changing traffic conditions. Predictive emergency braking (PEB) from Bosch, which consists of predictive collision warning (PCW), emergency brake assist (EBA) and automatic emergency braking (AEB), can determine when a driver is not fully braking, and intervene accordingly to reduce braking distance. EBA and AEB have the potential to eliminate 72 percent of severe rear-end accidents and reduce accident impact energy by 75 percent, respectively.

Bosch's automotive electronic solutions provide the foundation for safety and fuel economy improvements. The company's Electronic Battery Sensor (EBS), designed to monitor a battery's current and future performance levels, prevents vehicle breakdowns associated with depleted and near-depleted batteries, extends battery life and improves fuel economy. Bosch's Electric Power Steering (EPS) consists of a sensor that registers the driver's steering movements and electronically controls an electric motor on the steering column. EPS offers higher efficiency, smaller space requirements and lower weight, thus contributing to reductions in consumption and emissions. With its joint venture partner ZF Friedrichshafen at the track, Bosch showcased EPS on the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and the 2009 Audi TT Coupe.

The ride and drive event is at Bosch's newly expanded proving ground in Flat Rock, Mich., which was completed in November 2008. Facility improvements include: pad size expansion to 937,000 square feet; addition of a three-lane high-bank curve; extension of the track loop to 1.4 miles; and new installation of a hydroplane surface. The facility is now available for rent to automakers, automotive suppliers, government entities, media and others who are in need of an advanced test track facility.