BROADVIEW, Ill. — Bosch celebrated the production of its 500 millionth oxygen sensor in May.

Bosch invented and started series production of automotive oxygen sensors in 1976. Ten years after its launch in the U.S. variant of the Volvo 264, Bosch celebrated delivery of the 10 millionth oxygen sensor. By 1993, this figure was already 50 million, and by 2001, 250 million. In the meantime, the company produces roughly 5,000 oxygen sensors per hour worldwide – some 45 million every year.

Since 2002, the oxygen sensor has also been employed in diesel engines, where it meters the amount of fuel injected more precisely, even further reducing emissions.

"The importance of oxygen sensors will further increase in the future. Continued intensification of emission limits, tight installation space conditions, ever-increasing fuel prices and stricter requirements for metering accuracy and durability continuously drive further developments at Bosch," said Wolf-Henning Scheider, president of the Gasoline Systems division at Robert Bosch GmbH.

For information about Bosch automotive aftermarket products, visit: www.boschautoparts.com.