The Bosch Group has announced the acquisition of the residential and light commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) business from Johnson Controls, a move which will see the Group’s Home Comfort division almost double in size and makes it one of the largest suppliers of HVAC products worldwide. The deal includes long-term licenses to use the brand names for York and Hitachi and will see its global production network grow from 17 to 33 plants.
Stefan Hartung, chairman of the Bosch board of management, comments: “The entire HVAC industry is in a state of upheaval, and the market and technologies are changing. Bosch is systematically taking advantage of its opportunities and is now moving up to the Champions League in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning solutions business.”
According to Bosch analyses, the global market for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems amounted to more than 150 billion euros in 2024. Air conditioning systems alone accounted for two-thirds of this and the company is confident that demand will continue to increase significantly in the coming years, owing to global warming as well as other factors. According to Bosch’s forecast, sales of air conditioning units worldwide are expected to increase to more than 200 million units per year by 2030, almost a fifth more than in 2024.
Different technologies are in demand in different parts of the world. In the USA, the focus is on ducted systems, in which the air is routed through ducts from a central location in order to either heat or cool all rooms at the same time. In Asia, ductless solutions are in particular demand, in which indoor units can heat or cool individually in each room, as well as modern air conditioning systems with so-called variable refrigerant flow systems (VRF). In northern and western Europe, electrification by heat pumps and other technologies is promoted, while in the Middle East and Africa, air conditioning solutions and water heaters are in demand.
Carl Arntzen, CEO at Worcester Bosch, adds: “This is an exciting and really positive development within the Bosch Group and demonstrates the group’s confidence in the HVAC sector and its willingness to continue to invest and grow in this important area for Bosch.”
