During its meeting yesterday, the Continental AG Supervisory Board agreed upon an “important phase” in the company’s transition from tyre maker to mobility supplier. From 1 January 2022, Continental will elevate its business with systems for advanced driver assistance and automated driving into its own business area within its Automotive Technologies group sector.
Although his contract has almost another four years to run, Dr Elmar Degenhart has notified Continental AG of his intention to step down as chief executive officer and as director of the Continental Executive Board. Dr Degenhart’s decision to take leave of the company on 30 November 2020 is based upon “reasons of immediately essential preventive health care,” he informed Continental’s Supervisory Board yesterday. In the near future, Professor Wolfgang Reitzle will convene the Supervisory Board to decide upon the appointment of Degenhart’s successor.
On 1 May Continental AG said it will delay spin-off of its powertrain business Vitesco Technologies. Rather than executing that plan in July, as had been planned, the automotive supplier said it will pursue the listing of its powertrain subsidiary business when market conditions improve.
Tyre maker and automotive technology company Continental has ceased production in some of its plants until further notice. It informed the Frankfurt Stock Exchange of measures put in place to adjust production around the world in response to the spread of the coronavirus and the effect of this upon vehicle production. Continental confirmed that its adjustments include complete production stops in some cases.
At a meeting on 14 March, the Supervisory Board of German tyre and automotive systems maker Continental approved the next stage of one of the largest organisational changes in its history. Several new appointments at Executive Board level were announced, including the transfer of Nikolai Setzer to the company’s Automotive Group.
First half 2018 earnings at Continental AG are now expected to be around 150 million euros less than previously projected, the company reports. To blame for this negative development are exchange rate and inventory valuation effects, primarily in Continental’s tyre business. In response to anticipated lower earnings, Continental has revised its outlook for adjusted operating result (adjusted EBIT) within its Rubber Group for the period – this is expected to be around 100 million euros lower than in the first half of 2017.
In what is being interpreted as fallout of the Volkswagen (VW) emissions scandal, Schaeffler significantly reduced its initial public offering (IPO) after delaying in light of the VW revelations. VW accounts for more than 10 per cent of sales at Schaeffler, which makes ball bearings for products ranging from tools to airplanes.
Schaeffler, the family-run ball-bearing maker and largest shareholder in Continental AG, is reportedly considering a multi-billion euro IPO for its ball-bearing business in what could be a prelude to a further purchase of Conti shares.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has led coverage of the recent financial manoeuvres between Conti and Schaeffler, however financial analysts and other commentators lend credence to the view that purchasing Conti stock could be the endgame.
As of 1 January 2015, Ralph Lauxmann will take over as head of Continental’s Systems & Technology in the Chassis & Safety division headquarters in Frankfurt. He will report directly to Frank Jourdan, head of the Chassis & Safety division and member of the executive board of Continental AG and functionally to Christian Senger, Head […]
July saw all the leading tyre manufacturers report lower than expected earnings as a knock-on effect of high raw material prices and lower new vehicle demand. Everyone saw this coming. The 11.3 billion euro “sneaking” bid ball bearing maker Schaeffler Group pitched to buy Continental AG was distinctly less predictable. In the days that followed Continental’s management went on the defensive and cried foul to financial regulator Bafin, making what had up till then been the largest takeover bid in Europe into the largest hostile takeover the continent has seen this year.
