Hannover-based Continental AG is a leading automotive supplier and – according to the company – is “the choice of leading car manufacturers, offering award-winning tyres that deliver responsive braking in all weather conditions.”
Continental has announced a reorganisation within its non-tyre business that will lead to the closure of one of its factories in Germany and affect up to 870 jobs. These changes are taking place within the company’s ContiTech group sector and specifically apply to the Mobile Fluid Systems (MFS) business area, and are occurring as the sun continues to set over Germany’s ICE vehicle sector.
Continental Tyres has activated its long-running association with international football on its Grip the Nation roadshow. ITV Sport host Laura Woods and ex-England Lioness turned broadcaster Karen Carney MBE have joined the tyre brand as the England Women’s Senior Football Team prepares for its home European Championship tournament this summer. Conti is an official partner of the England Lionesses, and has been touring the UK with its Grip The Nation roadshow. The tyre manufacturer has handed out more than 13,000 free fan packs to help clubs and fans prepare for the tournament.
New for 2022, the Mercedes-Benz EQB is a fully electric compact SUV that weighs in at 2.1 tonnes and delivers up to 292hp through its 66.5 kWh motor, power that will get it from 0 to 62mph in as little as 6 seconds. Versions of the EQB delivered with 19-inch rims as standard will roll from the factory on Continental tyres. Continental is supplying its EcoContact 6 to Mercedes-Benz in size 235/50 R19 103T XL.
By the end of 2022, drivers in the UK will be able to equip their vehicles with Continental summer or all-season tyres made using polyester from recycled PET bottles. Continental calls this sustainable material ContiRe.Tex and began incorporating it into some tyre lines in April. The initial range coming to the UK consists of 15 dimensions in total, with five sizes of PremiumContact 6, EcoContact 6 and AllSeasonContact available.
Kia has selected Continental tyres as original equipment for its new Niro. In European, Middle East and African markets, it will deliver the fully-electric version of its SUV with Continental EcoContact 6 Q tyres in size 215/55 R17 94V. Plug-in hybrid models of the Niro will roll on the PremiumContact 6, which Kia will fit in size 225/45 R18 95V XL FR.
A swap and a new addition – that’s how the changes amongst the top 10 largest automotive suppliers by turnover worldwide can be summed up. Places one to five stayed the same as last year. That means: Bosch leads the top 10, followed by Denso, Continental, ZF Friedrichshafen and Magna. Behind them, Hyundai Mobis, now sixth, and Aisin, now seventh, have swapped places compared to the ranking published last year, before Michelin and Bridgestone follow unchanged in eighth and ninth place respectively.
Michelin remains the world’s leading tyre company by sales turnover, but Bridgestone is close behind in one of three close battles distributed across the table. For the first time, our research ranking market-leading global tyre manufacturers in terms of sales turnover converted into euros, illustrates the impact of recent high-profile acquisitions as well as the ongoing disruption of pandemic on the wider market landscape.
Continental has made three key appointments in its replacement and original equipment tyre businesses. Guido Wolff is now the new Global Account Director Original Equipment. He takes over this position from Dr Jan Oliver Götz, who is now the new Head of OEM Aftersales. Previously in this role, Jobst Schwarz has now taken over Key Account Management Replacement Business Germany from Guido Wolff.
When it comes to aesthetics in the wheel sector, it’s understandable that the focus tends to be on the rims. But the SportContact 7 shows that tyres too can deliver exceptional form and design alongside superb performance. The Continental tyre has picked up a Red Dot Award for Product design and an iF Design Award.
Continental has launched the ContiRV20 All Season for airport ground handling vehicles. The tyre ensures maximum ground contact and traction in all weather conditions, says Conti, allowing it to support industrial activities year-round and maximise logistical performance. Aircraft are loaded and unloaded, and baggage transporters bring and collect the passengers’ luggage and ensure smooth airport operations. Numerous ground operation vehicles are therefore in use to ensure everything runs smoothly. This includes winter weather conditions like snow and slush. Now, Continental has launched a new all-season tyre for airport ground handling vehicles that spares fleet operators from changing the tyres every season. That saves time and costs since there is no need for a tyre change.
Announcing its financial results for the first quarter of 2022, tyre maker and automotive technology firm Continental states that it “performed well” during the period despite “an increasingly turbulent market environment.” It describes its Q1 2022 tyre business as “strong.”
VW Caddy models supplied with 16- and 17-inch rims will be available with Continental all-season tyres as original equipment. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is equipping the Caddy with the AllSeasonContact in sizes 205/60 R16 96H XL and 215/55 R17 98H XL. It has also approved the Continental EcoContact 6 summer tyre for the Caddy in size 215/55 R17 98H XL.
Automotive tuner AC Schnitzer creates the most powerful BMW M3s ever at its facility in Aachen, Germany. With power upgraded to a total of 610 hp (449 kW) and refined according to the AC Schnitzer philosophy of “better fast than hard”, the M3 can reach around 300 km/h or 186 mph. This power connects with the road via Continental SportContact 7 tyres. AC Schnitzer fits the new sports tyre to the M3 in size 285/30 R 20 at the front and 295/30 R 20 on the drive axle, each on its own lightweight forged rims.
Due to several factors, Continental is adjusting its outlook for fiscal 2022. The company expects global production of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles to increase by between four and six per cent year-on-year in 2022, a lower rate than the six to nine per cent growth that the prior outlook (published 9 March 2022) was based on. Negative effects from cost inflation for key inputs, especially for oil-based raw materials as well as for energy and logistics for the Tires and ContiTech businesses, are also becoming significantly more material.
Continental