Continental: sales up 13.6% in 2015

Preliminary key data published today by Continental Corporation shows that the tyre and automotive systems manufacturer enjoyed both higher turnover and adjusted EBIT margin in the 2015 fiscal year. Full year sales of around 39.2 billion euros represent a year-on-year increase of 13.6 per cent, while adjusted EBIT margin rose from 11.3 per cent for the 2014 financial year to 11.7 per cent for 2015.

“In 2015, we continued to generate profitable growth in a generally challenging environment,” commented Continental Executive Board chairman Dr Elmar Degenhart upon announcing the preliminary key data during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. “Market growth in Europe and the USA helped us to compensate for slower growth in China, major recessions in Russia and Brazil, and the decline in industrial business, particularly in the raw materials sector. Once again, we could rely on the hard work demonstrated by our employees around the world, who now number more than 208,000.

“In 2016, we expect global production of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles with a total weight of up to six tons to increase slightly from around 88 million vehicles to 89 million,” added Degenhart. “We anticipate a sales increase of around five per cent to approximately 41 billion euros. We aim to maintain our adjusted EBIT margin again at more than 10.5 per cent.”

Continental will present its preliminary business figures on 3 March 2016.