Continental AG - Overview

Overview

Continental is structured in six divisions:

• Chassis & Safety
• Powertrain
• Interior
• Passenger car & Light Truck Tires
• Commercial Vehicle Tires
• ContiTech

One of Continental's main areas of expertise and technological leadership is Fuel Consumption Reduction, achieved through more efficient fuel injection systems, reduced rolling resistance tires and hybrid propulsion systems.

Continental sells tires for automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles worldwide under the Continental brand. It also produces and commercializes other brands on a regional level, such as General, Euzkadi, or Barum. Continental's customers include all major automobile, truck and bus producers, such as Volkswagen, Daimler AG, Ford, Volvo, Iveco, Schmitz, Koegel, Freightliner Trucks, BMW, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Renault and Porsche.

In 2001, Continental acquired a controlling interest in Temic, DaimlerChrysler's automotive-electronics business, which is now part of Continental Automotive Systems. The company also purchased German automotive rubber and plastics company Phoenix AG in 2004, and the automotive electronics unit of Motorola in 2006. Continental acquired Siemens VDO from Siemens AG in 2007.

In Argentina, teamed-up with FATE in 1999 for the production of tires for cars, trucks and buses and exports to the rest of South America the production of the San Fernando plant. In 2007, the company began to construct a plant in Costa Rica to produce powertrain components for North America. The plant was to open in two phases and ultimately employ 550 workers.