Continental Archives - Page 167 of 229 - Tyrepress

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.”

Posts

Conti SA Wins Environmental Award

Continental Tyre’s South African subsidiary has awarded an environmental distinction by the Institute of Waste Management, an organisation based in Eastern Cape province. Continental Tyre SA won the inaugural Eastern Cape Clean Industry Award for the manufacturing sector on the merits of its “transparent and traceable environmental management system”.

In response to the announcement, Continental SA managing director Claudio Boezio said “It‘s great to be recognised for our efforts with this award, and it‘s even better to know our efforts are reducing the harm our planet endures on a daily basis. We recognise that during the manufacturing of tyres, our activities, products and services can impact on both people and the environment. We design our processes and products with an emphasis on avoiding any negative consequences for the environment and our fellow humans.

14th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti’s Burkhard Wies on EU Enivronmental Labelling

(Tire Review/Akron) The European Union plans to reduce both CO2 emissions and noise pollution from road traffic with a range of planned regulations. As part of that EU program, an environmental labeling program is being considered, which would identify tyres with particularly low rolling resistance (greater fuel efficiency). And a new requirement for noise emission from tyres is also planned.

While this sounds good in principle, said officials of Continental AG, the resulting conflicts in tyre development would cause significant reductions in traffic security. Company experts criticise the rolling resistance label in particular, warning against tyres designed for low fuel consumption only would be significantly worse at braking on wet roads than today’s tyres.

13th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Launches Service Centre Concept in Malaysia

The Malaysian tyre operations of Continental AG, Continental Sime Tyre Sdn. Bhd. (CST) have partnered with Malaysian service centre operator Pusat Servis Tayar Dan Bateri Broleh to open the first BestDrive Continental Passenger Car & Light Truck (PLT) Centre. This centre, located in Johore, was officially opened on December 9.

12th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental to Carry Teams at Euro 2008

Sixteen Euro 2008 team coaches will be fitted with Continental HSL1 ‘Special Edition’ 295/80 R22.5 tyres, which feature stylised footballs and the yellow Continental logo. The tyre’s specially developed tread pattern means a low rolling noise, whilst also ensuring even contact with the road surface.

12th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti UK: EU Labelling Scheme May Compromise Safety

Continental Tyre in the UK has added its voice to comments made by executive board chairman Manfred Wennemer in mid-November regarding EU plans to introduce an environmental labelling scheme for tyres. The scheme, which forms part of the EU’s drive to reduce CO2 emissions and noise pollution from road traffic, aims to identify those tyres considered to be most energy-efficient and label them appropriately. The most efficient tyres would be classed as those with a particularly low ‘rolling resistance’.

However, Peter Robb from Continental Tyre Group UK comments that “Quite simply a low rolling resistance tyre isn’t necessarily a safe tyre and we want to make sure manufacturers do not think they can get away with supplying tyres deemed to be energy efficient, yet which pose a potential safety threat to motorists.” Conti believes that tyres that focus only upon low rolling resistance would be significantly worse at braking on wet roads.

12th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

NETE Appoints New Retail Director

North Eastern Tyre & Exhausts has announced the appointment of Roger Griggs to the company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Griggs joins the board following the announcement of Ray Darcy’s retirement, and he will take on the role of Retail Director.

Roger Griggs brings considerable experience with him to NETE, having spent over thirty years within the tyre industry, twenty-seven of which have been with Continental. Between 1993 and 2000, Roger was Sales Director UK/Eire before he was asked to spearhead Continental’s successful development with Europe’s largest independent tyre retailer, ‘Kwik Fit’.

10th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Names New US R&D Centre Chief

(Tire Review/Akron) Former Continental Tire North America executive Terry Edwards has been named vice president of the Kumho America Technical Center, located in Fairlawn, Ohio. Edwards will oversee day-to-day operations of Kumho Tire (USA) Corp.’s US research and development facility.

6th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

‘New Era’ at Conti Following Siemens VDO Purchase

Continental has wasted no time getting down to business following the completion of the company’s acquisition of the Siemens VDO Automotive unit. Day one of the “new Continental” was December 5, and Continental Executive Board chairman Manfred Wennemer travelled to Regensburg in Germany’s south, where the unit has its headquarters, to meet with the company’s newest colleagues.

“We warmly welcome the employees from the former Siemens VDO Automotive AG. By consolidating forces, we will forge our Continental into one of the world’s foremost automotive suppliers,” said Mr. Wennemer in his address to the unit’s employees, just one day after the official conclusion of the 11.4 billion euro purchase. “Following exhaustive preparation we can now tackle the integration with a flying start.

“It will take us another two to three months, however, to make a series of key decisions,” he added. “This gives us enough time to thoroughly examine data that antitrust laws have so far barred us access to. This applies in particular to information concerning sales, earnings and the number of employees by product group and plant. In the final analysis, the plans required for the operative business and especially for production will form the basis for the generation of synergy effects, paving the way for the emergence of a better and more efficient corporation from two top-notch companies as well.”

On the basis of planning to date, Continental anticipates net synergy effects in the order of at least 170 million euros as of 2010. “From what we know at the moment, we would be disappointed if it remained at this conservatively estimated sum. The amount will presumably be higher. We will be able to provide more details in the next ten weeks,” stated Wennemer.

The number of divisions under the Continental AG umbrella has increased from four to six; three of the existing divisions, Passenger and Light Truck Tires, Commercial Vehicle Tires and ContiTech, remain unchanged by this reorganisation and remain the respective responsibilities of Dr. Hans-Joachim Nikolin, Manfred Wennemer and Gerhard Lerch. The company’s old Automotive division and the Siemens VDO Automotive unit together form three new divisions:

Chassis & Safety – headed by Dr. Ralf Cramer under the Board responsibility of Dr. Neumann, this division is positioned to provide technology solutions for brake and chassis systems, the networking of active and passive safety systems, and sensors. The division has more than 27,000 employees at over 65 locations worldwide and reports more than 5 billion euros in sales.

Powertrain – this division is headed by Dieter Rogge, also under Dr. Neumann’s Board responsibility, and offers products and system solutions for powertrain, engine management, injection technology, sensors, actuators and hybrid technology. According to Conti, the division lays claim to worldwide market and technology leadership in the area of economical and eco-friendly driving. More than 27,000 people are employed by the Powertrain division at approximately 70 locations worldwide, and the division generates more than 5 billion euros in sales.

Interior – the new Interior division, headed by Helmut Matschi under the Board responsibility of Manfred Wennemer, positions itself as a worldwide market and technology leader for information management with systems that provide a link between the vehicle and the driver and passengers, between different vehicles, and between the vehicle and the infrastructure in which it operates. The division generates more than 6 billion euros in sales and employs more than 33,000 people at approximately 70 global locations. “Viewing ourselves as information managers in vehicles, we intend to optimise the flow of information,” said Mr. Wennemer regarding the division. “We will develop new functions that establish a link with the vehicle surroundings and present information in a way that motorists can grasp intuitively.

Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, Executive Board member in charge of corporate-wide technological development and the new Chassis & Safety and Powertrain divisions, stressed that with its expanded global operations and stronger product portfolio, the new Continental will be able to greater profit from future key auto industry trends: “Our innovative force and core competence cover precisely those automotive industry megatrends that will clearly dominate the upcoming years – safety, sustainability and Information”.

“In the Chassis & Safety division, we intend to integrate high-quality components in the area of brake systems, sensors and chassis to form a safety concept – called ContiGuard – that will make for zero crashes and injuries in the future. We are likewise well placed with respect to “zero emissions”, as envisioned for the future. We have, for instance, set standards with precise and highly efficient piezo injection systems for diesel and gas engines, as well as with hybrid drive solutions or roll-resistance-optimised tyres. In the Powertrain division we are determined to live up to our motto “Experience passion-driven mobility” by offering innovative products and system solutions that make diesel- and gas-engine vehicles more economical, reliable, powerful and eco-friendly,” said Dr. Neumann.

Continental now counts itself amongst the top five automotive suppliers worldwide and, based on 2006 figures, generates annual global sales in excess of 25 billion euros. The corporation currently employs approximately 150,000 people at nearly 200 locations in 36 countries.

6th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Adds Sizes to HP Line in US

(Tire Review/Akron) Continental Tire North America has added seven sizes to its ContiSportContact 2 high performance line. The new sizes include 195/45R15, 205/45R17, 215/45R17, 265/35R18, 225/40R18, 275/35R19 and 245/35R19. The new sizes join some 80 others in the H-, V-, W- and Z-rated line.

5th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Sets Canadian Price Hike

(Tire Review/Akron) Continental Tire Canada Inc. has announced an 8 per cent price increase on all Continental, General and associate brand passenger and light truck tyres. Specific increases will vary by market line and/or size. The replacement market increase takes effect January 1, 2008.

5th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

ContiTech Subsidiary to Establish Mexico Facility

A subsidiary of Continental’s ContiTech Group is establishing a new facility in Mexico that will supply automotive manufacturers in North America. The subsidiary, Benecke-Kaliko AG, will build this new plant in the state of San Luis Potosí, and it will specialise in the production of vehicle interior trim components such as PVC foam laminate and PVC leatherette as well as TPO compact film and expanded vinyl (TEPEO and TEPEO2).

“We’re targeting significant growth in the NAFTA region”, explained Dr. Dirk Leiß, Executive Board chairman of Benecke-Kaliko AG. The new facility will be a wholly owned subsidiary of ContiTech, and an investment of approximately 8 million euros will go into its construction. When the plant becomes operational more than 250 new jobs will be created.

5th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Purchase of Siemens VDO Officially Concluded

The Continental Corporation concluded its purchase of Siemens VDO Automotive AG on December 3, four days after the EU Commission issued its unconditional approval. The company remitted 11.4 billion, euros, including tax benefits of around 1 billion euros, to Siemens AG as payment for the purchase, and Conti reports that it intends to commence the Siemens VDO unit’s integration into the corporation immediately.

“With conclusion of the transaction, we have, in principle, taken the final step in our comprehensive preparation and are delighted that we can now welcome the employees at Siemens VDO as colleagues,” said Continental’s Executive Board chairman Manfred Wennemer. On December 5, the official first day of what Conti has dubbed the “new Continental”, Mr. Wennemer will welcome the employees at an internal event to be held at the former headquarters of Siemens VDO in Regensburg, Germany.

4th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Analysts: German Winter Tyre Pricing Negative

With German winter tyre sales underperforming this year, Deutsche Bank analysts are reporting that prices are falling for the first time in “many years.” Up till the end of October, the German winter tyre market is reportedly down 6 per cent. Around 75 per cent of the winter tyres would normally have been sold by now. Winter tyres represent approx 17 per cent and 6 per cent respectively of Continental and Michelin’s passenger tyre unit sales. According to the analysts, winter tyres represent a high 20 per cent of European tyre replacements (55 million units, of which 50 per cent are sold in Germany).

3rd December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

MercedesService Cardholders Now Protected by Conti Tyre Service

An agreement made with Continental means that MercedesService Card customers can now utilise the ContiBreakdownService, the tyre service provided in the UK and 23 other countries by ContiEuroService. The service operates around the clock, 365 days a year, and enables customers to obtain help simply through calling the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Centre – the centre will in turn notify the respective national ContiEuroService organisation, thus eliminating any potential language barriers. Costs for the service are reported to be fully transparent, with invoicing according to fixed prices, thus MercedesService Card customers are spared any unpleasant surprises.

3rd December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

EU Commission Approves VDO Purchase

Continental AG reported on November 29 that it has received approval from the EU Commission for the unconditional acquisition of Siemens VDO Automotive AG. Antitrust authority approval had already been issued by the relevant national offices. This enables Continental to close the transaction in early December and transfer the purchase amount, €11.4 billion including tax benefits of around €1 billion, to Siemens AG. The integration of Siemens VDO into the Continental Corporation will begin immediately after closing.

30th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors