FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — The Bosch Group will serve as Tier 1 Strategic Partner for the 2009 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress, April 20-23 at COBO Center in Detroit. The Congress’ 2009 host company, Honda, recently identified ‘Racing to Green Mobility’ as the theme of next year’s Congress.

"Honda has created a timely theme for the 2009 SAE World Congress: ‘Racing to Green Mobility.’ This helps create a critical call-to-action for the entire industry, and we are proud to work in tandem with Honda to encourage further ‘green’ dialogue and collaboration within the industry and beyond," said Lee Manduzzi, executive vice president, automotive sales, Robert Bosch LLC. "It is a fitting year for Bosch to take a more prominent role in the SAE World Congress. More than 40 percent of Bosch’s research and development budget is dedicated to products that conserve resources and help protect the environment."

In its role as Tier 1 Strategic Partner, Bosch will provide support and resources to Honda and SAE throughout the planning and execution process, and engage actively on-site during the Congress through exhibitor participation, strong technical program and speaker participation. As part of its commitment to the success of SAE, Bosch will continue its sponsorship of the SAE World Congress banquet Afterglow.

"We are very pleased to welcome Bosch, a company dedicated to innovation, as our Tier 1 Strategic Partner in the race to green mobility," said Masaaki Kato, president of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. and chairman of the 2009 SAE World Congress. "Through SAE, the entire industry can work together even as we compete against one another to address our common goal of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change."

In its 76th year, the SAE World Congress offers the most comprehensive technical program to the global automotive industry and serves as a unique hub of exchange among industry contingents.