Bengaluru - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz concluded the India leg of his Asia tour with a visit to the Bosch campus in Adugodi, Bengaluru, on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The visit underscored the deepening economic and technological ties between India and Germany, particularly in mobility, manufacturing, and innovation.
Merz's two-day India visit, his first official trip to Asia as Federal Chancellor, also included meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad. The leaders engaged in discussions on strengthening cooperation across various sectors, building upon the 25-year strategic partnership between the two nations.
During the Bosch campus visit, Guruprasad Mudlapur, President of the Bosch Group in India and Managing Director of Bosch Limited, hosted the delegation. The visit showcased innovations from the region, including the H2ICE (Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine) demonstrator truck with a fully integrated powertrain and telematics system. Bosch India, in collaboration with Bosch Germany, is actively driving hydrogen transformation for sustainable mobility. The delegation was also introduced to Bosch's software solutions, including AIShield, an AI security solution with over 150 patents.
"We feel honoured to welcome the esteemed Federal Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, to the Bosch India campus," Mudlapur stated. "His presence not only affirms Bosch's enduring legacy but also reinstates India's position in the world as a hub of technological innovation and economic growth. This is a moment of immense pride for Bosch and a testament to the partnership between our nations".
Bosch has a significant presence in India, operating through 14 companies with 17 manufacturing sites and seven development and application centers. In fiscal year 2024-25, the Bosch Group in India reported a net revenue of ₹37,345.7 crore (approximately €4.13 billion) and employed 38,655 associates.
Earlier in the day, Chancellor Merz visited the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science. The media was not allowed at these events.
The visit also resulted in the exchange of 19 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and eight key announcements across defense, technology, and clean energy, marking a deepening of the strategic partnership between India and Germany. These agreements span sectors like semiconductors, critical minerals, telecommunications, and defense industrial cooperation. Germany also announced a visa-free transit facility for Indian passport holders.
Furthermore, Germany committed €1.24 billion under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership, supporting renewable energy and green hydrogen projects. Both countries agreed to establish a "German-Indian Centre of Excellence" to enhance cooperation in green technologies and climate action.
Chancellor Merz's visit underscores the importance Germany places on India as a key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region and highlights the strong economic, technological, and strategic ties between the two nations.
