Continental Archives - Page 172 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.”

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Tyre Safety No Joke in Switzerland

Car owners take note – a motorist who was caught by the Swiss police with insufficient tread depth on his car tyres has been banned from driving for a month, following the decision of the federal court in Lausanne. This ruling by Switzerland’s highest court overturned a lighter sentence previously given by an administrative court, deciding in favour of clear punishment in the case of unsafe tyres on vehicles.

At the hearing on 7th August, the court was told about a professional driver who had been stopped in May last year during the course of a police check in wet weather. The tread depth on the vehicle’s tyres was in part below the minimum specified limit of 1.6mm. According to the federal judges, this was something the driver would have been able to see and he should have replaced the tyres. Continuing to drive with tyres this worn was considered to be a moderately serious offence, as it posed a danger to others.

13th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcaline: ‘Continental Ideal in the Long Run’

International haulier Alcaline (UK) Limited has reported that it finds Continental tyres ideally suited to the sort of long-distance operation that takes its trucks deep into Italy and increasingly into Eastern Europe. From the UK, the company runs 40 tractor units and 60 trailers out of its base at Ashford in Kent, which is conveniently located for the Channel tunnel and Dover ferry port. Coiled steel, paper and automotive parts are the main products carried and the company plays a key role in the supply chain for several prestige car makers.

Almost all the trucks are DAF’s top-of-the range XF95 and XF105 two axle tractors – the latter being the current ‘International Truck of the Year’ – operating at 40 tonnes gross. Trailers are high-quality, tri-axle curtainsiders by Schmitz Cargobull, including ‘mega cube’ units of up to 104 cubic metres capacity, and all are on air suspension.

9th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti OE for New Fiat 500

Following the successful reinterpretation of the Volkswagen Beetle and the Mini, Italy’s iconic pint sized town car has made a comeback, and in its 2007 guise is equipped with tyres from Continental. The new Fiat 500, the visual if not technological successor to the hugely popular rear-engine car built between 1957 and 1975, will sport Conti rubber on all standard sizes of rim – 14, 15 and 16-inch.

The majority of tyres supplied by Continental will be in the 165/65R14 T size. Roberto Zazzara, who is responsible for the original equipment tyres that Continental delivers to Fiat, explains: “We supply Fiat with the ContiEcoContact 3, a tyre that offers low rolling resistance and thus reduced fuel consumption, and we are Fiat’s sole supplier for this size.” In terms of 15 and 16-inch tyres, Continental is equally well-represented with its ContiPremiumContact 2, which also offers low rolling resistance. Both tyres have been designed to ensure short braking distances on wet and dry roads, good lateral guidance and comfortable driving characteristics, combined with low rolling resistance.

7th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti to Sponsor SEMA Media Centre

(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America will be the sponsor of the media centre at the 2007 SEMA Show. Located near the show floor and specifically designated for qualified journalists covering the event, the Continental Tire Media Experience provides access to exhibitor publicity and media materials, complete with newsroom equipment for those who file stories during the show. The centre will have Internet and phone access, computers, copy and fax machines; exhibitor media kits available for all media personnel; and interview and meeting areas, refreshments and lounge areas.

6th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Court Decides CTNA Must Pay Health Benefits

Following a US court ruling Continental Tire North America has been given the responsibility of compensating the healthcare expenses of a number of retired employees from plants in Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina and California. The US district court in Toledo, Ohio decided that the company improperly reduced the health benefits of 3,000 former CTNA employees and their spouses.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs claimed that the CTNA decision to reduce the former employees’ health benefits resulted in couples not old enough to qualify for subsidised ‘Medicare’ health care (the minimum age for eligibility is 65) paying as much as US$1,000 a month for insurance. Many former employees were reportedly unable to afford these costs and thus were compelled to drop their healthcare cover.

6th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Increasing US Market Prices

Continental Tire North America plans to raise prices for US market tyre lines, including Continental and General brand passenger car and light truck tyres, by up to 6 per cent. The price increases will take effect on October 1.

The company reportedly attributes the price hike to the industry’s usual suspects – an escalation in transportation and raw material costs, including natural rubber.

3rd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti CFO Sees ‘Chance’ of CTNA Profit This Year

(Akron/Tire Review) Continental AG expects its North American unit – Continental Tire North America – to post a profit for 2007. According to an AFX report, Conti CFO and CTNA President Alan Hippe said “There is a chance of it,” when asked about CTNA’s expected improvement.

If CTNA does post a profit for the 2007 year, it would be the company’s first in this decade. The company did say that sales growth has been slowed by reduced orders for OE tyres from automakers, reflecting a general downturn in the North American car market.

3rd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Striking South African Workers Vent Anger at Tyre Plant Bosses

Striking workers at Continental Tyre South Africa’s Port Elizabeth factory have expressed their feelings towards deadlocked wage negotiations with what one local media source has described as a “rampage.” The Port Elizabeth Herald described the July 31 events as nearly becoming “out of control,” with “verbal abuse exchanged between the group and police.” Part of the road outside the plant was reportedly barricaded with burning tyres and a number of motor vehicles belonging to employees not participating in the strike were damaged.

Members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) were well represented amongst the demonstrative group outside the plant, and Continental is accusing them of not adhering to the accepted rules of picketing. “The company can‘t condone an act of this nature. Under the circumstances we will be forced to enforce the picketing order,” Continental Tyre spokesman Attie Higgs told media. In its defence Numsa said the display of anger was symbolic of the workers’ growing frustration and desperation, and the union accused the plant bosses of “not negotiating in good faith.”

1st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Half-Year Results “Arm” Conti for Future

Following positive sales and EBIT during the first half of the year, Continental AG says its goals for 2007 are firmly in sight and feels “well-armed to tackle the tasks ahead.” The German tyremaker and automotive supplier achieved double-digit growth over the same period last year in these two key financial indicators, a result Conti is calling a “rock solid basis for yet another peak year.”

Consolidated sales for the first six months of 2007 rose by 10.8 per cent compared with the same period of 2006, to 8,013.9 million euros, and Continental report the Motorola automotive electronics business contributed 558.7 million euros to the company’s sales. Before changes in the scope of consolidation and exchange rate effects, consolidated sales were up 6.3 per cent.

Raw material prices, although still at a high level, remained stable during the first half of the year. EBIT rose by 26.2 per cent over the previous year’s 722 million euros to 911.5 million euros, and the return on sales to 11.4 per cent. The automotive electronics business acquired from Motorola contributed 7.4 million euros to EBIT. Before changes in the scope of consolidation and special effects, EBIT rose by 146.4 million euros – 19.2 per cent – to 909.8 million euros.

1st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

A ‘Once in a Lifetime’ Opportunity

Having just been given the nod to proceed with the largest acquisition in its 136 year history, Continental AG is set to become one of the top five worldwide automotive suppliers. Following the July 25 granting of consent from the supervisory boards of both Continental and Siemens, the 11.4 billion euro purchase of the latter’s VDO Automotive division was approved subject to permission from antitrust authorities.

Based on 2006 figures, the combined annual sales of Continental and Siemens VDO Automotive AG will reach around 25 billion euros, and the resulting company will boast a global workforce of close to 140,000 employees. “Together Continental and Siemens VDO Automotive AG, two companies rich in tradition and endowed with an enormous performance capability, have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to forge a global frontrunner in the automotive supplier sector,” said Continental Executive Board chairman Manfred Wennemer. “By joining forces, pooling our innovative prowess and allying our leading positions worldwide in key market segments like safety, chassis, powertrain systems and telematics/infotainment, we are extremely well placed to take on the global competition and to profit from all mega-trends in our branch of industry.

27th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New Speed Record for ContiSportContact Vmax

Less than a month after Continental was admitted to the Guinness Book of Records for car performance modifier Jan Fatthauer’s 388 km/h dash, which saw the Continental ContiSportContact Vmax officially recognised as the world’s fastest production tyre, a new record using Conti’s performance tyre has been set.

On July 17 the German tuning company motoren technik mayer (mtm) set a new speed record of 393 km/h at the Papenburg high-speed test track in northwest Germany. The double-engined Bimoto Audi TT, capable of giving out a colossal 735 kW (1000HP), was fitted with ContiSportContact Vmax tyres. Prior to conducting the test mtm owner Roland Mayer conducted evaluations on a number of tyres in order to select the right high-speed rubber to use. Summarising the test results, he noted “at the high speed attained by the Bimoto, the ContiSportContact Vmax displays distinctively good driving stability.”

25th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Siemens Selling VDO Unit to Conti

Continental AG will become the proud new owner of Siemens’ VDO automotive electronics unit after agreeing upon a deal worth 11.4 billion euros. The details of the sale were confirmed at a meeting of Siemens’ supervisory board on July 25. Following the sale, which must first be granted approval from the relevant antitrust authorities, Continental will become one of the world’s five largest automotive suppliers. Assuming no delays in antitrust clearance occur, the sale should be closed towards the end of this year’s fourth quarter. Integration will be concluded by the end of 2009.

The sale to Continental spells an end to the possibility of an IPO for the VDO unit as previously considered. At the same time as this deal was approved Siemens also announced its intention to purchase the US manufacturer of medical equipment Dade Behring for US$7 billion

25th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

PAACE Automechanika 2007: Not an Ordinary Trade Show

(Akron/Tire Review) Last week, many North American automotive aftermarket professionals – including myself – packed their bags for Mexico City and the annual PAACE Automechanika trade show. The show this year drew more than 550 exhibitors and 19,000 attendees.

In recent years, the show has become known as a place for U.S. companies to explore expansion plans into Mexico and South America. The show is sponsored Mexico’s Industria Nacional de Autopartes (INA) along with U.S. industry association heavyweights: the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), the Motor Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (MEMA), the Automotive Parts Rebuilder Association (APRA) and the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA).

Whether you are a first-time attendee or veteran of the show, PAACE Automechanika always manages to amaze and educate about this growing market. According to a 2005 study by the Mexican Ministry of Economy and the INA, the Mexican aftermarket employs more than half a million people at almost 40,000 automotive parts stores and more than 146,000 repair facilities.

24th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

CTNA Sending Plant Workers to College

(Akron/Tire Review) Continuing its emphasis on its sole remaining active North American tyre plant, Continental Tire North America has teamed with Rend Lake College to start Continental University, an on-site program that will allow CTNA workers at its Mt. Vernon, Ill., tyre plant to earn college degrees.

The program gives employees the opportunity to earn a two-year associates degree by attending classes at the plant, and a bachelor’s degree from nearby Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

“I’m pleased to announce a direct investment in the education and professional growth of our employees through Continental University,” said Heinz-Gerhard Wente, global human resources chief for Continental AG. “It is a meaningful program that promotes higher education and advances employees’ career paths at Continental, and one that also promotes the exchange of knowledge and ideas and cultivates a high-performance culture in the workplace.”

24th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti & TRW Inflate their Siemens VDO Bids

During the weekend of 21-22 July both Continental AG and TRW Automotive submitted bids in excess of 12 billion euros for Siemens’ VDO unit. This news was reported in the German financial newspaper Handelsblatt and draws upon unspecified sources within the financial industry. The companies involved have chosen to neither confirm nor deny the report.

As part of their offer TRW and Blackstone, the private equity company backing the TRW bid, have allegedly promised not to close any factories in Germany. The Siemens supervisory board is expected to meet on July 25, at which time it will discuss whether to sell the VDO unit to either Continental or TRW instead of floating it in an IPO.

23rd July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors