Continental Wins Chrysler Contract

Continental AG has reportedly won the “lion’s share” of a large order to supply Chrysler with its ESP anti-rollover system for (SUVs), according to the German automotive supplier. The deal means Continental will now supply all of the ‘big three’ US carmakers after winning an order from General Motors, said company spokesman Hannes Boekhoff.

Chrysler, the US segment of DaimlerChrysler, announced that it will make the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) standard on all of its SUVs in 2006 in the United States, including several models as early as 2005. It will equip more than 750,000 SUVs within the first full year of implementation.

Currently, the system is already available on some Chrysler vehicles as an optional extra, but Continental said in August that it would supply ESP as a standard feature in four Ford SUV models. The world’s fourth-biggest tyre manufacturer has also said that it is well placed to benefit from growing demand for ESP in the United States.