Speaking earlier this month Franz Farenbach, Bosch chief exec, said that Bosch would end 2009 with 10,000 fewer employees than it had at the start of the year. A further 100,000 workers will be kept on reduced working hours.
It is not yet clear whether the job losses will affect the company's power tool or garden power categories, but it seems unlikely that they will bear the brunt of the cuts as the majority of lay offs are likely to be in the company's automotive operations.

The future of the Welsh site in Miskin outside Cardiff, which manufactures car parts, is in question, as are the 900 jobs there, after the company reported a fall in sales of 45% in the past 12 months. It has re-forecast sales for that part of the business next year 60% lower than originally expected.

Bosch has 280,000 staff worldwide, with 5,000 of those employed in the UK.