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.”
Michelin has once again topped the tyre table within Brand Finance’s ranking of the world’s strongest and most valuable brands. Michelin achieved a brand value of US$7.7 billion and a brand strength index score of 85.8 out of 100.
The conflict in Ukraine has impacted upon operations at Continental’s tyre factory in Kaluga, Russia. A spokesman confirmed to Tyrepress.com that the company has “suspended tyre production intended for export at our plant in Kaluga until further notice.”
From 1 April 2022, Anna Fischer will take over as head of Continental’s Investor Relations department, reporting directly to chief financial officer Katja Dürrfeld. Fischer succeeds Bernard Wang, who has served in this capacity since early in 2019 and is leaving the technology company at his own request at the end of March 2022 due to personal reasons.
In light of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the resultant sanctions against Russia, Tyres & Accessories asked the well-known automotive supplier and premium tyre manufacturer for its perspective on the situation. In response, an official statement from the Continental Tire Group Sector explained: “We are following the war against the Ukraine with great concern. Our thoughts are with the people affected and we hope that the combat operations end as quickly as possible.”
Continental says it has “developed a tyre with a significantly improved rolling resistance” for Peugeot, DS and Vauxhall vehicles with electric drives and combustion engines. Stellantis will factory-fit this 17-inch tyre on all electric SUVs, the Peugeot e-2008, the Vauxhall Mokka-E and the all-electric DS 3 Crossback E-Tense, as well as the combustion engine versions of these models.
The tragedy of war always has repercussions. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the end of February is no exception. With reports of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of people already displaced, the human cost is incalculable. While blood is being spilt in Ukraine at a horrifying rate, this war is being fought on at least three fronts: military, electronic and financial. The human cost of the military dimension is beyond the scope of this publication. Likewise, cyber-warfare is probably a bridge too far (unless we are talking about vehicle cyber security, which is of increasing importance right down to the aftermarket garage level – see pages 16 to 17 of our forthcoming March edition for more on this). The economic cost of the war in Ukraine, however, will have an inevitable impact on European tyre production directly due to conflict and indirectly due to logistics and the impact of sanctions.
Continental has launched a new all-season tyre for airport ground handling vehicles, the ContiRV20 All Season. The tyre is produced in Continental’s facility for industrial material Handling tyres in Otrokovice, Czech Republic, and is available in 16-inch and 16.5-inch sizes.
Continental’s new SportContact 7 won its first independent tyre test when Tyre Reviews made it the winner of its 2022 Ultra High-Performance test. The new model improves on the sixth generation SportContact with braking distances eight per cent shorter in the wet and six per cent shorter in the dry. Peter Robb, marketing director at Continental, said: “What a win for the SportContact 7! With the success of its predecessor, this result is evidence of Continental’s commitment to producing class-leading high performance tyres. We are thrilled with the win, especially as it is the first tyre test for the new tyre.”
Tyre comparison website Tyre Reviews has put ten popular tyres for performance cars to the test, making the brand-new Continental SportContact 7 a winner in its first outing on the independent assessment circuit. Reviewer Jonathan Benson fitted the ten tyre combinations to a BMW-powered Toyota Supra in sizes 255/35 R19 (front) and 275/35 R19 (rear) for the test, which he conducted over nine disciplines at Conti’s Contidrom facility. Given that the tyre was proven at the circuit, and is at least 12 months newer than any other product in this test, it is perhaps a little unsurprising that the SportContact 7 prevailed, but with reasonably comfortable first-place finishes in the dry and wet handling and braking tests, Tyre Reviews concludes that the tyre sets “a new standard for the UUHP segment.”
The German Agricultural Society (DLG) awards its ‘DLG-Approved’ test mark to products that perform well in evaluations to determine performance in specific key areas. Continental submitted its VF TractorMaster Hybrid for DLG testing, and the tyre has now gained said approval.
Mercedes-Benz has selected Continental tyres as original equipment for its Mercedes EQA. The new full electric SUV will roll from the line on Continental EcoContact 6 tyres in 18- to 20-inch rim diameters, depending on the feature package. For customers wanting a winter tyre, Mercedes is also offering the WinterContact TS 850 P.
Continental is now supplying original equipment tyres to all brands within CNH Industrial Group following the approval of the TractorMaster and VF TractorMaster for the New Holland T5, T6 and T7 tractor series. Jens Mund, key account manager for agricultural tyre original equipment at Continental Commercial Specialty Tires, says the cooperation with New Holland “underlines Continental’s growth ambitions in the agricultural sector.”
The South African Competition Commission tyre price fixing hearing got underway in South Africa on 28 January 2022. The Competition Commission names Apollo Tyres South Africa (Pty) Ltd; Goodyear South Africa (Pty) Ltd; Continental Tyres South Africa (Pty) Ltd; Bridgestone South Africa (Pty) Ltd; and South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (Pty) Ltd its case and alleges that from around 1999-2007, the respondents “discussed and agreed to fix the prices of passenger, light truck, bus, off-the-road, agricultural and earthmover tyres”. This was allegedly done through the SATMC, an association for tyre manufacturers in South Africa. The respondents were members of the SATMC.
Land Rover has specified the Continental CrossContact RX crossover tyre for original fitment on all Defender models, including the plug-in hybrid. The tyre manufacturer developed the CrossContact RX for crossover and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) with a sporty performance profile also suitable for off-road use. Conti is supplying three variations of the tyre in one 19” and two 22” sizes. Conti has increased the profile of its SUV/4×4 tyre range recently, with the inaugural series of off-road electric vehicle racing championship Extreme E running on tyres derived from the CrossContact range. The RX was also fitted to a 300-strong run of special edition Land Rover Defenders featured in the 2021 James Bond film, No Time To Die.
After a four-year absence, The Tire Cologne is preparing to make a comeback in May. Continental, Falken, Hankook, Michelin and Pirelli have already signed up as exhibitors. Show organiser Koelnmesse and conceptual sponsor the German Tyre Retail and Vulcanisation Trade Association (BRV) discussed their plans at a digital press conference this morning.
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Sora Shimazaki