The most pressing technological challenge faced by the nascent automobile industry was finding a system that would deliver reliable ignition. Carl Benz, one of the pioneers of automobile engineering, referred to it as the "problem of all problems." The than current buzzer ignition systems rapidly drained the car's batteries, necessitating a long pause between sparks, and the glow-tube ignition of automobile pioneer Gottlieb Daimler could end up setting fire to the engine.

"You have really hit the bulls eye," exclaimed Robert Bosch to his employee, Gottlob Honold, when in December of 1901, he demonstrated the company's latest development: a high voltage magneto ignition unit with spark plug. The invention was patented in 1902, Honold went on to be head of development for Bosch, and the small company grew to become a world wide enterprise. Today, Bosch manufactures over a million spark plugs a day.

For over 100 years, Bosch has been winning races and championships. Bosch spark plugs power the top teams in the American Le Mans Series, Champ Car, NASCAR, IRL, Trans Am, Grand Am, and the NHRA. The first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 was won by Ray Harroun in his Marmon Wasp using Bosch plugs. Last year Bosch scored their 19th straight Indy 500 win, the 18th consecutive Champ Car title, the tenth straight IRL title, and the 35th GT Road Racing Championship. More races are won in the world each year on Bosch than any other spark plug.

But spark plugs are the tip of their involvement in motorosports. Bosch engineers work directly with motorsports teams, chassis designers, and engine developers to design tailored made systems and components.

Innovations from Bosch have shaped the history of the automobile. They are the world's largest independent supplier of equipment for automotive vehicles. They manufacturer ignition, fuel and engine management systems. They make airbag components, brake pads, starters, alternators, wiper blades, emission control systems, telematics and much more. In North America alone, the company has more than 25,000 employees at over 75 locations. For over 100 years, the Robert Bosch Corporation has set the standard for quality and innovation.