Celebrating 30 Years of Bosch KTS Diagnostic Testers

Introduced in 1988, the Bosch KTS 300 was the first diagnostic tester that allowed independent workshops to access and inspect vehicle electronic systems. Bosch named the device 'KTS', standing for Klein-Tester-Serie — German for 'Small Tester Series' — a name that continues to this day. 

“ince the company was founded, Bosch has stood for technical excellence, innovation, and reliability. We were one of the first companies to meet these standards in control unit diagnostics,” explained Oliver Frey, President of the European Region at Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, describing the motivation behind the continued development of the KTS diagnostic testers.”

“We are committed to increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of everyday workshop operations through our state-of-the-art diagnostic testers and software. Providing diagnostic solutions that are fit for the future of workshops—that is what drives us,” Frey continued. 

The 30-year success story of Bosch diagnostic testers is set to continue—with enhanced control unit diagnostics and a new generation of KTS devices providing hardware solutions built for the future. 

When the first KTS model was launched, it was capable of handling engine management data from just three different car brands. However, the number of control units that KTS could test grew rapidly. 

By 1999, the system enabled diagnostics on 120 systems from 25 automotive manufacturers. Soon after, the KTS 300 earned the nickname 'Bosch Hammer' within the automotive sector, becoming synonymous with engine testing. 

In 1999, Bosch launched its ESI[tronic] workshop software — marking another major milestone in control unit diagnostics and the development of the KTS series. 

Originally distributed on CDs and DVDs, quarterly updates are now predominantly delivered online, ensuring that workshops have continuous access to up-to-date diagnostic data tailored to the latest vehicles and control units. 

At present, Bosch's KTS diagnostic testers and ESI[tronic] software allow workshops to diagnose control units in over 90,000 vehicle models spanning more than 150 manufacturers. 

Numerous automotive electronic systems, used as original equipment by leading vehicle manufacturers worldwide, were developed by Bosch engineers. 

For 30 years, Bosch has been a leader in control unit diagnostics. As the demand for high-quality and efficient diagnostics in automotive workshops continues to grow, Bosch has continuously enhanced its KTS diagnostic testers and ESI[tronic] workshop software. 

Today, the KTS modules complement exhaust gas analyzers and vehicle system testers. These are either integrated into a diagnostic cart equipped with a PC, monitor, and printer, or incorporated into a portable tablet PC suitable for mobile use in workshops. The use of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or LAN enables seamless connectivity to other test equipment, the workshop network, or even the internet. 

In addition, it supports all standard communication protocols used in modern automotive electronic systems. 

With the latest diagnostic testers, KTS 560 and 590, Bosch supports a wide range of workshops. 

Independent brands are once again equipped to service and repair modern vehicle systems. 

Under the Euro 5 / PassThru regulations, vehicle manufacturers are required to provide independent workshops with access to technical repair information via online portals. Accessing these portals requires a PassThru interface. Bosch KTS devices have supported PassThru since 2009 and can be used to access repair information—albeit with some limitations. 

The current KTS 560/590 diagnostic testers feature an enhanced PassThru interface, allowing workshops to access almost all vehicle manufacturers’ portals without issues. 

This enables independent workshops to service modern vehicle models and reprogram control units—without having to refer customers to authorized dealerships. By using the latest diagnostic tools, KTS 350/560/590, workshops are well prepared for the future. These devices are already equipped with a new diagnostic interface that supports Ethernet via the Internet Protocol (DoIP). 

This allows for significantly higher data transfer rates, which is especially important given the increasing amount of data required—for example, by driver assistance systems. 

An increasing number of vehicle manufacturers are also adopting Ethernet for diagnostics. While basic diagnostics can still be performed via the CAN interface, comprehensive diagnostics or ECU flashing requires an Ethernet interface — which is available in the latest KTS models.