Bosch LLC is a German automotive parts manufacturing company with multiple locations worldwide, with one plant located in the North Charleston, SC area South. It has been in the Charleston tri-county area for 40 years and currently manufactures ABS braking systems, low- and high-pressure fuel injection, high-pressure pumps and diesel injection systems. It is a company that positions itself well with its forward-looking projections regarding market trends, technology and innovation. Robert Bosch focuses its efforts on diversity and globalization to maintain a competitive advantage in an ever-changing automotive market. In the external audit summary we will focus on information from 9 key external factors that play an integral role in business forecasts to meet consumer demand while maintaining market profitability. The 9 key factors are based on economic, social, cultural, demographic, environmental, political, governmental, legal and technological trends affecting the production of automotive parts. Economic Trends The production of automobile parts is always dependent on the demand for new car sales which are dependent on interest rates, the health of the economy, and the replacement parts market (Hoover's, 2014). The job situation in America is still growing in a very small place, forcing buyers to stay in their older vehicles longer before taking the plunge to purchase. Therefore, purchasing activity is slower than in years past, making it even more difficult for industry competitors. In a competitive manufacturing market, small companies can compete alongside larger companies by focusing on fewer parts or more specialized parts. In this market, production profits depend on demand for new vehicle volumes. In 2009 from... middle of paper......Hoover. 2014. hoover's Inc. March 22, 2014. .Manalastas, Ronald C. Yahoo Voices. September 9, 2009. March 22, 2014. .Nemesis, Jeff. March 18, 2014. March 22, 2014. .Pahwa, Nitish. Global edge. March 20, 2014. March 22, 2014. .Yahoo Finance. March 21, 2014. Reuters. March 22 2014. .