Bosch employees call on the EU for “Made in the EU” rules to protect jobs in the automotive industry

Representatives of Bosch employees called on the European Union on Wednesday to adopt measures to protect jobs in the automotive industry and boost local production. The request comes as the German group intends to eliminate 13,000 positions from its main automotive components division by the end of the decade.

Frank Sell, chairman of the Bosch mobility division’s works council, which represents approximately 70,000 German workers, said the industry’s transformation would succeed only if added value and jobs were retained in Europe. He called for clear “Made in the EU” rules that would give companies time to cooperate and increase their competitiveness.

The measures are being requested amid layoffs in the automotive sector, driven by competition from Chinese manufacturers, tariffs and high production costs. The European Commission is examining trade policies to protect European industry from companies such as BYD and Chery, while EU leaders are expected to discuss the trade deficit in relations with China next month.

Bosch has approximately 413,000 employees worldwide. In Romania, the company had around 9,900 employees at the end of 2025 and invested approximately 176 million lei in its factories in Cluj and Blaj.