Bernd Bohr, Bosch board member responsible for the company's Automotive group has revealed that it is considering mass production of a diesel particulate filter, which would be ready to go on the market in time for 2005.

Mr Bohr told Automotive News that a final decision on the technology that removes the soot particles from diesel exhaust is expected in the third quarter of this year.

The delivery of such a device to the market on a large scale is premised on convincing ordinary Americans that diesel is a modern efficient fuel alternative, and also successfully passing stringent American legislation on emissions that will come into effect in 2007.  As Bohr says, 'No customer is prepared to do an intermediate introduction of diesel and then, by '07, go back to gasoline, because there are high investments involved'.

'We already have cars running that can do US '07, but that's not yet secured over (the vehicle's) lifetime. I would say after another year we will have a clear picture of whether it's doable and economically viable,' Mr Bohr opined.

'Diesel is our largest business unit. We did about 6.5 billion euros of sales worldwide last year, so it's important for our bottom line,' he went on.

Bosch is now set to continue testing of its current technology with major plans for roll-out of the new technology envisaged for the American market, and also, ultimately, the burgeoning Chinese sector.

According to the company's figures the market there is growing by more than 30 per year.