• ＃Tech Note
• Management Message
• Cross-Domain Computing Solutions Division (XC)

We asked Hironori Kiyamura, General Manager of Driver Experience (DX) in the Cross-Domain Computing Solutions Division (XC Division), which was formed by the consolidation of three business units in Bosch, to talk about the background of the establishment of the new organization, the software engineers they are seeking to hire, and their vision for the future.

Role of the Cross-Domain Computing Solutions Division and the challenges it faces

What was the background behind the establishment of the Cross-Domain Computing Solutions Division (hereinafter referred to as the XC Division)? Please tell us about its mission and its challenges.

The XC Division was formed by the consolidation of three business units.
In January 2021, Bosch established a new business division that pools its expertise in software and electronics, such as Advanced Network Solutions, which links the driver experience of automated driving systems and in-vehicle systems, and Cockpit Technologies, which integrates monitors and speedometers.

Automotive systems are becoming increasingly complex in order to achieve more comfortable driving assistance and automated driving. The number of functions that we want to install is increasing, and if we do not integrate the systems, there will not be enough space in the car. The need for a dedicated organization to optimize in-vehicle systems led to the creation of the XC Division.

However, each of the three business units has its own development process, organizational structure, and division of roles between Germany and Japan. There are different cultures too.

In April 2021, I was transferred to the Driver Experience Business Unit (DX) of the XC Division, and I became General Manager in 2022. While the required skills and roles are different, a new challenge we are working on is how to match our viewpoints.

What are the strengths of the XC Division compared to the competition?

I believe our strength is that we provide an integrated system. Currently, the required systems are becomming bloated, and there is a growing need to install multiple cameras and radars to improve the accuracy of recognition outside the vehicle. Our customers also expect us to be able to provide systems in an integrated state rather than as individual components.

The development of an in-house operating system has become a major issue for Japanese OEMs (automobile manufacturers). Bosch supports customers in utilizing their own operating systems, and provides solutions with the necessary maintenance according to how the data is used in each development environment.

In addition to automating the development environment, we are actively incorporating external technologies such as simulation technology that incorporates AI, and we also have a center specializing in AI in Germany.

We have started working on a system that can consistently connect everything from development to SOPs (instruction manual describing work procedures) and maintenance after the vehicle is on the market. We are able to provide advice tailored to our customers' needs through our advanced initiatives in the automotive industry.

Specifically, what kind of technology is involved?

For example, during the maintenance phase, we can reconstruct the same conditions in the simulated environment as would be experienced during driving, and find areas for performance improvement. After updating the software, we test it again on the simulator, and if we can be 100% sure that there are no problems, then we will install it in the actual vehicle.

Germany is actively conducting M&A of companies with simulation technology, and in the future, it will be possible to automatically update the simulation-verified software faster and more comfortably via Wi-Fi. In other words, it is like creating a digital twin of a vehicle.

Expansion of the platform from Japan to the world

What is the value of the Japanese market from a global perspective, including Germany?

One in three cars in the global market is made in Japan, so Japanese customers can never take it lightly. In particular, the high technological capabilities of Japanese OEMs are attracting a great deal of interest globally. That's why I want to make the Japanese development team even stronger.

We will promote technical discussions on the Japanese side and lead the development, leading to the resolution of the customers' issues. Since joining the company, I have been promoting development projects on an implementation basis, but I would like to strengthen the technical capabilities in my current department. We would like to show our presence as a platform development organization, not just as a customer interface.

What specific measures will you take to strengthen domestic development capabilities?

Not many advanced technologies for development environments have been introduced from Germany to Japan yet. In order to create a comfortable working environment for software engineers, we are currently inviting experts from Germany and promoting the transfer of technology during their long-term stay.

Furthermore, over the next one to two years, we would like to more than double the number of personnel in platform development, and we would like the DX Division to attain a scale that can be called a "platform development center" in Japan. We would like to create an organization in Japan that disseminates to the global market.

What exactly is platform development?

We are advancing platform development in all areas of automated driving assistance systems.
For example, we have been working on a "Connected Map Service" since 2021. It refers to a technology that collects data in the cloud from sensors installed in vehicles, and generates and distributes maps for trajectory control based on that data.

The roads in Japan are unique in the world, with many curves and frequent traffic jams, even on expressways. Japan's complex roads are used as benchmarking roads for OEMs around the world, and are used as criteria for evaluating analytical accuracy. For this reason, having development know-how in Japan leads to efficient analysis, and there is a great sense of expectation from Germany.

There is also a growing need to improve the accuracy of camera and video recognition. Currently, we are in the launch phase of a new organization that works in the field of platform development, and the DX Division is also responsible for the integration of camera and radar data. I would like to contribute to platform development through cross-sectional collaboration.

What are the appealing and rewarding points of joining Bosch's XC Division mid-career at this time?

What do you think are the merits and attractions of joining the XC Division now?

Given the size of the Bosch company, I think it is an extremely rare occasion to be able to join during the rapid expansion phase of "wanting to double the size of the organization".

In the process of creating a base for platform development, there will be active exchanges with Germany, and there will be opportunities to train in Germany for more than half a year.

Even at the engineer level, I would like to create many opportunities to interact with Germany so that I can talk to customers about the content of platform development. I think it is a very stimulating environment for those who feel motivated to take on challenges overseas, and for those who have the mindset to jump into a new environment and drive themselves.

Mr. Kiyamura, I heard that you joined Bosch as a mid-career hire. As an engineer, do you have any experiences that only Bosch can provide?

Bosch has a flat and open culture where opinions can be exchanged regardless of position. Especially in Germany, there are times when there are heated discussions, but once the meeting is over, everyone is friendly and gets along well, so it isn't awkward. The switching is clear and it is easy to work in that environment.

As an engineer, I think it's good that I have a technical background that allows me to exchange opinions with customers on an equal footing. Instead of just responding to requests, I can make optimal proposals based on technologies and data accumulated globally, and build relationships in which I will be listened to and accepted. It can lead to new business, which is interesting.

In fact, the Vehicle Motion Division, which was the division I was in when I joined Bosch mid-career, has been working on an airbag project for three years since 2018, and was able to proceed to mass production in June 2022. Having established a mass production system with our first customer in the airbag field, we will further expand our business in the future. I have been involved consistently since development, and the sense of accomplishment is great for the project coming to fruition.

How did you learn the skills you needed to be in charge of such a large project?

From a management perspective, the experience and knowledge gained as a project manager both inside and outside of Bosch is valuable in itself.

For example, Bosch has a well-established project manager training system, and as part of the in-house project manager certification curriculum, it is necessary to attain the international qualification "Project Management Professional" related to project management.

The in-house curriculum is highly evaluated in the industry, and I feel that the opportunity to systematically learn what it means to be a project manager was valuable.

In actual management work, there are many cases where you are not able to keep an eye on multiple task forces, and do not completely follow what was learned in the qualification exam. Still, I was very happy to be able to experience how the team grew stronger and stronger towards the same objective.

I didn't have a strong interest in automobiles, but before I knew it, I had been with the company for over eight years. The reason I have been able to work for so long is that every one to two years, I am entrusted with the next position (such as engineer, team leader, project manager, development design, general manager), and I can take the next step forward in my career. As someone who likes new challenges, it is a very favorable environment.

Creating an environment where Japanese engineers can play an active role globally

How do you envision the future of the XC Division?

As the XC Division, we would like to continue our existing business, and connect the system integration business (such as multiple cameras and radar analysis) to a mass production system. Personally, my big ambition is to create a "platform development center" in Japan.

To be called a center, it would be necessary to expand the size of the organization to 100 people, more than double the current number, and in addition to increasing the number of people, we must expand the scope of Japan's development responsibility. That's the goal we want to pursue over the next few years.

Now that I am in a management position, my role is to create a vision. Unless we create an environment in which core technology can be developed in Japan, it will be difficult to nurture Japanese engineers.

It would not be interesting to only say, "Bosch can only provide a customer interface" and "Communication with customers is limited to cost negotiations." I have technical competencies and I would like to continue to carefully arrange it so that I can be involved in platform development.

My colleagues at Bosch want to make the world a better place and improve it with technology. In the automotive industry, there has been a growing focus on the end-user experience, rather than component performance.

How to make motorists happy, and how to pursue driving comfort. Many members will probably turn their attention to the experience that can be obtained by riding in a car, and use it as a new motivation. I myself want to work on development that will lead to the future, while being in contact with cutting-edge technology. In addition to automated driving, I would like to expand my interest in other areas as well.