The venture capital company of the Bosch Group, Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH, is taking a stake in Torqeedo, the world's leading supplier of electric boat drives based in Starnberg.

Torqeedo has been a familiar name among boat owners for years. Since its foundation in 2005, the company has been the undisputed pioneer in the development, introduction and establishment of electric outboard motors. With its multiple award-winning drive systems that feature record-breaking levels of efficiency, integrated lithium batteries, ultralight designs and innovative on-board computers, Torqeedo is the market-leader for electric drive systems up to 15 HP.

Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH has now acquired a minority stake in Torqeedo. The move was made as part of a round of financing that Torqeedo undertook in preparation for further growth and the development of new innovative products. Besides Robert Bosch Venture Capital, investors with existing shareholdings also took part in the round of financing.

"In our opinion, Torqeedo is ideally positioned globally to continue to advance electric mobility on water," explains Dr Dieter Kraft, Investment Partner at Robert Bosch Venture Capital, commenting on the new shareholding.

Co-founder and CEO of Torqeedo, Dr Christoph Ballin, is delighted to have gained Robert Bosch Venture Capital as Torqeedo's partner. "Having the e-nobility competence of Bosch among our shareholders is a great advantage for Torqeedo that cannot be rated highly enough – and it's an advantage that will benefit our customers, too."

Torqeedo is best placed to maintain its leading position in the growing market for clean electric boat drives.

You can find more information on the Bosch Group and on Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH at www.bosch.com, www.bosch-presse.de and www.rbvc.com

Bosch invests in Torqeedo
18 MARCH 2012