Tyre makers limbering up for IAA Cars
It’s only a month until the world’s largest motor show begins, and several tyre makers have shared news of the innovations and products they will bring to this year’s IAA Cars.
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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Stop the Crash – Continental partners with Global NCAP campaign
Tyre maker and automotive systems supplier Continental is to serve as a key partner to a four-year global campaign being rolled out to promote awareness of leading vehicle crash avoidance technologies in major emerging markets. The firm’s Tire and Chassis & Safety divisions are supporting the ‘Stop the Crash’ initiative organised by Global NCAP (Global New Car Assessment Programme), the London-based umbrella body of the NCAP organisations that carry out vehicle safety tests around the world. The company also states it will more closely position its Continental tyre brand to the campaign’s long-term goals.
Intolerance on wheels – 1/3 of UK drivers let prejudices affect their driving
A thick skin isn’t necessary for driving in the UK, but it certainly helps. A survey of 2,200 drivers performed for Continental Tyres shows that more than a third permit their assumptions to influence them behind the wheel, while some 45 per cent allow prejudices to affect how courteous or aggressively they act towards other road users – with something as simple as a bumper sticker prompting them to see red.
First workers hired for Continental’s ‘high tech’ tyre plant
Continental has begun hiring employees for its HPTC (High Performance Technology Center), the “factory within a factory” built over the past year at its Korbach plant in Germany. Although construction work is not yet complete, the tyre maker expects to fill 24 job vacancies by the end of this year.
T&A interviews Continental commercial vehicle tyre director, Arthur Gregg
With large numbers of low-cost truck tyres, the development of retreading – not to mention legislative pressures and technological advances – hot topics in the truck tyre sector, Tyres & Accessories interviewed Continental Tyres’ sales and marketing director, Commercial, Arthur Gregg in order to get the well-known German tyre manufacturer’s inside perspective.
Continental fits latest tyres ContiPressureCheck to electric truck
Continental AG supplying its third generation truck tyres and ContiPressureCheck to a joint pilot project between BMW Group and its logistics partner Scherm Group to promote environmentally friendly trucks. Conti is equipping a Terberg YT202-EV with 355/50 R22.5 Conti EcoPlus HS3 tyres on the steer axle; Conti EcoPlus HD3 in size 295/55 R22.5 on the drive axle; and 445/45 R19.5 Conti Hybrid HT3 trailer tyres in size on the trailer.
Conti to test Taraxagum-based WinterContact TS 850 P at Arvidsjaur
Continental will reach an important milestone in its research project for the industrialisation of dandelion rubber in tyre production when it tests its first WinterContact TS 850 P with a Taraxagum based tread at its Swedish testing facility. Continental unveiled its first test tyres made from the raw material (the botanical name for dandelion is taraxacum) in a limited series last autumn. The use of the material in its WinterContact TS 850 P takes Continental “an important step closer” to its long-term sustainability goals, reducing its dependence on traditional raw materials.
Continental lifts 2015 earnings forecast following H1 ‘success’
All key financial figures headed in the right direction during the first half of this year, and therefore tyre maker and automotive industry supplier Continental AG has upwardly revised its adjusted EBIT margin and free cash flow forecast for the full year.
IAA world premiere for Continental SportContact 6
Continental says it will publicly display its new ultra high performance summer tyre for the first time at September’s IAA Cars exhibition in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The tyre maker isn’t giving much away, however it shares that the SportContact 6 will provide “maximum grip, maximum control, and maximum stability” at speeds of up to 350 km/h.
Continental previews ContiSportAttack 3 tyre
The third generation of Continental’s ContiSportAttack hypersport tyre has been launched ahead of its market introduction early next year. The official ContiSportAttack 3 debut took place at the Red Bull Ring in Austria earlier this month. Former MotoGP rider Alex Hofmann was present at the event and led other launch attendees, including ContiMoto UK, as they put the new tyres through their paces on the latest BMW S1000RR.
Continental launches voluntary truck tyre recall
Continental AG has announced what it is calling a voluntary tyre exchange programme (as opposed to a recall) of approximately 12,000 truck tyres. The tyre in question is a 205/75R17.5 Conti Hybrid LS3, produced from calendar week 27 in 2014 to calendar week 26 in 2015. The product was mainly sold to original equipment manufacturers in Europe and – to a lesser degree – into the replacement market. Continental stressed that there have been no reports of accidents or injuries.
Horni to head Continental’s MEA business development portfolio
Dieter Horni is stepping down as managing director of Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) after six years in this role, and will return to Continental’s head office in Hannover, Germany to head up the company’s Business Development portfolio for the Middle East and African region. Shaun Uys, who is currently head of marketing and sales for CTSA’s South Africa and Sub-Sahara replacement tyre business, will as of 1 August succeed Horni as managing director.
Continental announces US tyre recall
Some 3,800 ContiProContact tyres sold in the US market have been recalled due to the risk of tread separation. Continental says the recall relates to size P205/65 R15 95T XL tyres manufactured in February 2015. These replacement market products carry the Department of Transportation code VY UR 471B 0615.
Early redemption for Continental USD bond
Continental reports the planned early redemption of the $950 million, 4.5 per cent coupon USD bond that company subsidiary Continental Rubber of America, Corp. issued in September 2012. The redemption will now take place on 15 September 2015, four years earlier than the original maturity date, with a redemption price of 102.25 per cent.
Moody’s lifts Continental AG rating to Baa1
Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded its rating for tyre and automotive systems manufacturer Continental AG, and removed the restriction that the company’s rating must remain within three notches above that given to major shareholder Schaeffler AG. This upgrade applies to both the long-term Issuer Rating and the senior unsecured ratings of Continental and its rated subsidiaries, and sees it rise from Baa3 to Baa1.
