Gazprom's daughter company is reintegrating Bosch's industrial facilities in St. Petersburg
Bringing Bosch Back to Life in Russia: What's the Scoop?
Rumors are swirling that the production of Bosch household appliances in Russia might kick off as early as 2025, according to popular Russian newspaper, Kommersant.
Previously, it was reported that Russian factories of Bosch, the German household appliance manufacturer, were under the temporary management of Gazprom's structure, Gazprom Bytovye Sistemy PJSC, starting in spring 2024. This followed a decree signed by Russian President, Vladimir Putin, on April 26.
In late 2023, German Bosch was apparently in negotiations with the Turkish investment fund Can Holding about selling its production in St. Petersburg. Bosch was willing to sell the plant for $20 million, but the Turkish fund allegedly offered a higher sum.
As of now, Gazprom Bytovye Sistemy PJSC is gearing up to revive two factories located near St. Petersburg by summer 2025. These refreshed facilities aim to churn out a million refrigerators and washing machines yearly, reaching 2022 production levels. The following preparations are underway for the plant's reawakening: updating and adjusting equipment, developing software for a robotic assembly line, selecting raw material suppliers, and crafting prototypes and test samples of appliances.
The financial model for the period up to 2035 reflects gradual increases in capacity each year, primarily due to restrictions in labor resources and gradual equipment tuning, as well as the use of new materials.
In related news, Gazprom Bytovye Sistemy PJSC has the authority to manufacture goods under the Bosch brand, but ownership will revert to the original Bosch once they formally re-enter the Russian market. In April 2024, Russian factories of Ariston were under Gazprom's management, but the Italian brand returned to Russia in March 2025, transferring property back to Ariston Thermo Rus ("Ariston Thermo Rus"). This marked the first instance of a European business making a comeback to Russia.
Another intriguing development involved the closure of a significant plant, TPV Technology, in the Leningrad region that produced televisions under names like Philips, Sony, and Sharp. This factory had been operational in Russia since 2011, with investments of around $30 million and a potential output of up to 3.5 million TVs per year. Its shutdown was apparently due to pressures from the US and EU (through the threat of secondary sanctions) and difficulties in paying for components.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development!
Additional Insight: European companies are facing challenges due to the political tension between Russia and other nations, such as the interruption of deliveries by Bosch and the closure of TPV Technology. Contacting the respective companies directly may provide the latest information on their re-entry or future production plans in Russia.
- I'm not sure if the negotiations between German Bosch and Can Holding for selling Bosch's production in St. Petersburg will be successful.
- Gazprom Bytovye Sistemy PJSC, currently managing the Russian factories of Bosch, is ready to start manufacturing refrigerators and washing machines by summer 2025.
- The manufacturing industry in Russia might see a significant boost with Gazprom Bytovye Sistemy PJSC planning to produce a million Bosch appliances yearly from 2025.
- The financial projections show that Gazprom Bytovye Sistem PJSC's capacity will gradually increase until 2035, influenced by labor resources, equipment tuning, and the use of new materials.
- The business landscape in Russia continues to change, as European companies like Bosch and Ariston Thermo Rus cautiously navigate challenges, such as political tensions and sanctions, to re-enter the market.
