German supplier Bosch may have supplied parts for Russian military vehicles.
(Photo: dpa)
Stuttgart The federal government has passed on information to customs and the public prosecutor about a possible violation by the technology group Bosch of an export ban to Russia. This is about the sanction that has been in force since the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, according to which goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes (“dual-use”) may only be delivered to Russia under certain conditions, according to government circles. The “Spiegel” reported first.
A Bosch spokeswoman told Handelsblatt: “So far we have no knowledge of the initiation of any official investigations.” Bosch had previously announced that it would massively restrict its business in Russia. This affects both deliveries to the country and local production, the technology group said. The trade in spare parts has already come to a standstill.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba criticized last Sunday in the ARD program “Anne Will” that Bosch components had been found in Russian military vehicles in Ukraine. The Stuttgart-based foundation group then explained on Monday that the part came from its own production, but had not been supplied by Bosch to the Russian military vehicle manufacturer.
Local contracts with automotive customers stipulate that products may only be used for civil applications. According to Bosch, the components are standard control units for commercial vehicles. An internal investigation was launched into the allegations. “Of course, we comply with all previous and future legal and legal requirements – including sanctions,” said a company spokeswoman on Friday.
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The “Spiegel” also reports that the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (Bafa) is preparing proceedings against Bosch. However, Bafa cannot initiate a procedure. It is responsible for export control, but: “Customs and law enforcement authorities are responsible for prosecuting any violations of foreign trade law and initiating appropriate procedures,” a spokesman for the authority told Handelsblatt.
ZF also in focus
The Ministry of Economic Affairs announced that since 2014 there have been no export permits to Russia for goods that can be used for civilian or military purposes. A spokeswoman would neither confirm nor deny the investigation against Bosch. To date, Bosch has mainly produced household appliances, power tools, thermotechnology and vehicle spare parts at three locations in Russia, mainly for the local market. According to preliminary figures, the company generated sales of 1.2 billion euros in the country in 2021.
The “Spiegel” further reported that the second largest German auto supplier ZF Friedrichshafen could also come into focus because of deliveries to Russia. ZF boss Wolf-Henning Scheider said on Thursday that the company had no knowledge that ZF components had been installed in Russian military vehicles.
A ZF spokesman added that the company had not been contacted by German authorities. ZF’s joint venture with the Russian vehicle and parts manufacturer Kamaz has been discontinued. It produced transmissions exclusively for civil use, which ZF also checked.
More: Ukrainian foreign minister raises serious allegations against supplier Bosch