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.”
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.
In addition to his existing remit as regional head of the Central Asia PLT replacement business within Continental’s Tires division, Samir Gupta has taken on the role of managing director of Continental Tyres India. He began in this capacity this month after relinquishing leadership of Continental Tyres Malaysia, which he’d headed since December 2019.
David Smith plans to retire as managing director of Continental Tyre Group at the end of March 2022. Continental has announced that his successor will be Tarik Görgün, who is currently head of OE Tyres Japan and global key account manager for Honda and Subaru. Görgün will take over the role of managing director for the UK and Ireland from 1 March 2022.
TecAlliance’s TecDoc Catalogue contains standardised data from more than 900 spare parts brands, with millions of product descriptions and product images. From the end of January 2022, tyre data will also be available – in the TecDoc Catalogue, via Web Service and in the data packages. This update brings size- or vehicle model-based information about summer, winter and all-season tyres to the catalogue, and Continental is the first tyre manufacturer to present its brands.
Continental is supplying two tyre models as original equipment for the Kia EV6, with customers able to choose between the PremiumContact 6 and CrossContact RX. UK customers preferring to equip their electric crossover with all-season or winter tyres can also do so, as dealers will offer a Kia-approved Continental AllSeasonContact and WinterContact TS 850.
Following reports that Continental had sold its South Africa agricultural tyre production assets, company representatives have confirmed that the plant ceased operation a little more than two years ago.
A pilot project that Continental began with Share Now in late 2020 is progressing into a broader partnership that will see the car sharing firm’s Danish vehicle fleet fitted with Continental AllSeasonContact tyres and monitored under a Conti360° Solutions contract. The partnership includes new innovations, including algorithm-based, real-time tread depth monitoring.
Continental Tyre South Africa has sold the manufacturing assets it used to make industrial and agricultural tyres in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Prior to the sale, Continental manufactured bias-ply and radial agricultural tyres at the Port Elizabeth location. Continental’s ongoing production operations, such as its passenger car and light truck lines, are not affected by the news.
Continental will launch its new summer car tyre for 14-20” applications in 100 sizes in spring 2022. The new UltraContact will address the latest trends in mobility with a new compound and tread designed to increase mileage potential, while delivering safe handling characteristics and low rolling resistance. The carcass of the tyre is designed to promote durability too. The Conti UltraContact is designed to offer increased sustainability in motoring and has been engineered to be suitable for fitment on electric vehicles. Conti sites global sales of EVs to hit 14 million annual sales by 2025. Estimates shared with Tyrepress by leading tyre business analyst Astutus Research suggest European demand for plug-in electric vehicle tyres could reach around 40 million tyres by 2025, with roughly half in the replacement market.
Continental is consolidating its public affairs and external affairs activities under its Group Public Affairs department. Dr Thorsten Burger (43), previously head of external affairs, has become the new department’s head, also overseeing Conti’s Berlin political office.
The German Agricultural Society (DLG) has awarded Continental a silver medal in its Agritechnica innovation awards 2022. It bestowed this honour upon the tyre maker for its Agro ContiSeal technology, a patented polymer applied to the inside of an agricultural tyre that can prevent punctures by immediately sealing any foreign object penetration.
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Sora Shimazaki
Continental
Continental AG