Bosch Celebrates 100 Years of Wiper Innovation with Route 66 Journey

Bosch is celebrating 100 years of wiper blade innovation with a cross-country Route 66 journey designed to highlight the role of advanced wiper technology in improving driver visibility and safety across changing road and weather conditions. The journey begins April 29 in Chicago and concludes on May 8 in Santa Monica, CA.

As part of Bosch’s Route 66 centennial journey, automotive creators will capture how modern wiper technology performs across changing weather and road conditions along the 2,400-mile drive from Chicago to Santa Monica.

As part of Bosch’s Route 66 centennial journey, automotive creators will capture how modern wiper technology performs across changing weather and road conditions along the 2,400-mile drive from Chicago to Santa Monica.

Designated an Official Route 66 Centennial Project, the journey will feature popular automotive creators Jason Fenske, host of the YouTube channel Engineering Explained (4.19 million subscribers), and Ben Lin and Ben Thorn, hosts of Gears and Gasoline (1.34 million subscribers), who will document the evolution of automotive technology while demonstrating the role of modern wiper systems in maintaining visibility and safety in real-world environments.

“For 100 years, Bosch has focused on helping drivers get to their destinations safely, no matter the weather conditions,” said Scott Sullivan, Senior Marketing Communications Specialist at Bosch Mobility Aftermarket. “This Route 66 journey showcases how wiper blade technology has evolved alongside the automotive communities who rely on them. With each passing innovation, our commitment to keeping these drivers safe grows even stronger.”

Highlighting Advances in Driving Safety

Bosch introduced the first electrically operated wiper system in 1926 and has advanced the technology for safety and performance ever since. Innovations ranging from early electric drive motors to advanced rubber compounds and jointless beam blade designs have helped shape modern wiper systems. Today, Bosch offers a broad portfolio of solutions engineered to deliver reliable visibility in all weather conditions.

Throughout the trip, the team will travel historic stretches of Route 66, stopping at automotive retailers and engaging with industry partners to highlight how aftermarket innovations continue to support vehicle performance and driver safety across generations. To demonstrate this progression, the journey will begin in a classic performance vehicle before transitioning to a modern electric vehicle midway through the route.

Concluding on May 8 in Santa Monica, CA, the cross-country road trip will culminate with a wrap celebration, bringing together media, automotive partners and Route 66 Centennial leaders for a special announcement from Bosch on their continued commitment to supporting drivers and automotive communities along Route 66.

To follow along on the journey, subscribe to Engineering Explained and Gears and Gasoline’s social media channels beginning April 29.