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Continental AG

Summary

Covers Continental AG exhibition participation, products, technologies, and major customers. Offers exclusive information available only on MarkLines to support research and analysis in the automotive industry.

Company Profile

■URL

https://www.continental.com/en/

■Address

Continental-Plaza 1, D-30175 Hanover, Germany

Business Overview

-The Company is a leading tire manufacturer and industry specialist that develops and produces sustainable, safe, and convenient solutions for automotive manufacturers as well as industrial and end customers.

-In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, sales to the automotive industry, excluding the replacement business, accounted for 29% of the Company’s total sales, while the remaining 71% came from other industries and the replacement business.

-One aspect of the Company’s global strategy is to achieve an increased balance of sales across all of its operating regions, thus allowing it to become less dependent on the European market. This concern is also furthered by the issue in that the automotive and tire markets in Europe and North America are largely saturated. As such, the Company continues to diversify its regional sales balance. This strategy can be seen in the trend of a steadily decreasing percentage of Company sales from Europe. The Company’s percentage of sales for Europe has decreased from 59.3% in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, to 49% in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025.

-In September 2025, the Company completed the spin-off of its Automotive and Contract Manufacturing group sectors into Aumovio, which is now listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. In February 2026, it completed the sale of ContiTech’s Original Equipment Solutions (OESL) business area to Regent L.P. The transaction comprised ContiTech’s automotive business, excluding surface solutions for vehicle interiors and drive belts for passenger cars. In addition, the Company plans to sell the ContiTech group sector, which will now focus on the industrial business, in 2026. Upon completion of these initiatives, the Company will operate as a pure-play tire manufacturer.

-Effective January 1, 2026, the Company is organized into two group sectors: Tires and ContiTech. These two sectors are further divided into a total of eight business areas. The former Original Equipment and Specialty Tires business areas were transferred to regional business areas as part of a realignment. The Company’s organizational structure is divided into group sectors and business areas as follows:

Group Sectors Business Areas
Tires -Americas
-APAC
-EMEA
ContiTech -Industrial Solutions Americas
-Industrial Solutions APAC
-Industrial Solutions EMEA
-Original Equipment Solutions
-Surface Solutions


-The Company completed the spin-off of its former Powertrain business area, Vitesco Technologies, on September 15, 2021. Following its listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Vitesco Technologies became an independent company. On October 1, 2024, Vitesco Technologies was merged into Schaeffler AG (Schaeffler).

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Shareholders

-As of December 31, 2025, the IHO Group holds 46.0% of the shares in the Company. This shareholding is attributable to two members of the Supervisory Board, Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler-Thumann, and Georg F. W. Schaeffler. The remaining 54.0% of the shares are in free float.

-The Company's shares are listed on the Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, and Stuttgart stock exchanges.

Products

Tires Division
-Passenger and light truck tires

  • Run-flat tires
  • Self-sealing tires
  • Tire noise-reducing technology
  • Winter tires
  • Summer tires
  • All-season tires

-Commercial vehicle tires
-Tire information systems
-Tread depth monitoring systems
-Tire pressure monitoring systems

ContiTech Division
Air Spring Systems
-Air spring systems for buses, trucks and rail vehicles
-Seat air springs
-Cab air springs
-Engine mounts 

Benecke-Kaliko Group
-Foil and coated fabrics for automotive interior trim
-Molded slush skins
-Expanded vinyl

Compounding Technology
-Rubber compounds
-Elastomer sheetings
-Polymer blends

Mobile Fluid Systems
-Hoses

Power Transmission Group
-Multiple V-ribbed belts
-Timing belts
-Flat belts
-Belt drive systems
-Drive belts

Surface materials for various applications
-Instrument panels
-Door panels
-Side panels
-Center consoles
-Pillars
-Storage areas
-Sun visors
-Seat covers
-Seat backs
-Floor coverings
-Heel mats
-Rear trays
-Cargo compartment covers

History

1871 Continental-Caoutchouc-und Gutta-Percha Compagnie was founded in Hanover as a joint stock company.
1892 The Company was the first German company to manufacture pneumatic tyres for bicycles.
1898 Production of automobile pneumatic tires without tread pattern started in Hanover-Vahrenwald.
1904 Presented the world's first automobile tire with a patterned tread.
1928/
1929
Amalgamation with major companies of the German rubber industry to form Continental Gummi-Werke AG. Takeover of plants in Hanover-Limmer and Korbach/Hesse.
1943 Patent application filed for tubeless tires.
1955 At the beginning of the year the Company was the first German company to start manufacturing tubeless tyres. The Company is also the first company to develop air springs for trucks and buses.
1960 Mass production of radial tires began.
1961 Completion of the plant in Dannenberg/Elbe. Initial production comprised plastic components for the automotive industry.
1964 Construction of a tyre plant in Sarreguemines/France.
1967 Opening of the Contidrom tyre testing facility on the edge of the Luneburg Heath.
1971 Europe's largest hose manufacturing facilities were set up at the Korbach plant. The entire hose production was transferred from Hanover to Korbach.
1972 Launched the studless ContiContact winter tyre.
1975 Large-scale production of raw-edge V-belts started.
1976 In Northeim, one of Europe's largest conveyor belt production lines came on stream.
1979 Takeover of the European tyre operations of Uniroyal Inc., USA. With the acquisition of four production plants in Belgium, Germany, France and Great Britain. The Company gained a wider base in Europe.
1983 Unveiling of the ContiTyre System for passenger cars. Thanks to its run flat capability, the system was used today on special personal security vehicles. The Company hydro mounts - special bearing elements used in engines for isolating vibration and noise - were mass-produced for the automotive industry.
1985 Acquired tyre business of Semperit, Austria and established Semerit Reifen AG. Obtained plants in Traiskirchen, Austria and Dublin, Ireland. (Ireland plant was closed in 1996)
1987 Acquired General Tire Inc. (Ohio, U.S.A.) Obtained manufacturing plants, two in U.S. and two in Mexico. (Two plants in Mexico were sold in 1993)
1988 Acquired Anoflex Group, major hose coupler manufacturer of France.
1990 Established a joint venture with Mabor of Portugal.
1991 Established a joint venture (currently GTY) with Toyo Rubber and Yokohama Rubber of Japan to produce tires for commercial vehicles.
General industrial products business was reorganized into 29 independent companies under the brand name "Contitech".
With its ContiEcoContact tyre, the Company was the first manufacturer to launch an environment-friendly passenger tyre featuring special fuel-saving and high-mileage benefits.
1997 Presents ISAD, the Integrated Starter Alternator Damper, which stood for a new technology capable of damping engine vibrations.
1998 Alfred Teves GmbH in Frankfurt, which includes plants, research centres and test tracks, was integrated into the Continental Automotive Systems division.
1998/99 Expanded its position in the global tire market through: technology transfer with Fate, Argentina; joint venture for the production of commercial tires with the Slovakian company Matador, acquisition of production facilities and outlets of Grupo Carso, Mexico; and the takeover of 60% of the South African manufacturer Gen Tyre, now operating under the name of Continental Tyre South Africa.
The first non-European assembly site for complete wheels was opened in Juiz de Fora, Brazil.
Further steps on the way towards internationalizing ContiTech's operations are the purchase of conveyor belt plants in Chile and Mexico, as well as boosting of manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Mexico and Hungary.
2000 A new plant for passenger tires starts production in Timisoara, Romania.
Continental Teves entered into an extensive partnership with the Japanese conglomerate Nisshinbo in the field of brake and chassis systems for the Japanese and Korean markets.
2001 Acquired Temic GmbH, Nuremberg.
Continental Teves Corporation, Japan, took over the majority holding in Shin-Ei and Shin Tec, manufactures of brake actuation components and disk brakes.
ContiTech acquired a 51% stake in a joint venture company, ContiTech Grand Ocean, in China.
2002 The Company and Bridgestone announced that they will be cooperating on run-flat tire systems with the goal of creating a worldwide standard for run-flat tire systems that will be installed on conventional rims.
The Company and Yokohama signed an agreement to work more closely in the tire business in the future. A 50:50 joint venture company was established to promote activities geared towards Japanese carmakers.
2003 Established a joint venture together with Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby Berhad.
ContiTech sets up a joint venture for the production of air spring bellows in Korea.
2004 Expanded its production base in Romania by opening up a plant that makes assemblies for automotive electronics.
Acquired the wheel-sensor business of a Japanese company having manufacturing operations in China.
A new plant in Mexico, for the production of brake components, was opened.
2005 Acquired Phoenix AG.
2006 Production of brake calipers commences at the new plant in Zvolen, Slovakia, and of passenger, light truck and commercial vehicle tires in Camacari, Brazil.
ContiTech acquires a Danish manufacturer of power transmission belts.
Acquired the automotive electronics business of the company Motorola, Inc.
2007 Acquired a majority interest in the Slovak company Continental Matador Rubber s.r.o.
Acquired Siemens VDO Automotive AG and advances to among the top five suppliers in the automotive industry worldwide.
2008 In July, Schaeffler KG made a takeover offer to the Company. In August, the offer was accepted with certain conditions.
2011 Consolidated the Passenger & Light Truck Tires and Commercial Vehicle Tires divisions into one Tires division.
2012 Formed a joint venture with SK Innovation called SK Continental E-motion to develop, produce and distribute lithium-ion battery systems for cars and light commercial vehicles.
Acquired molded brake components business of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies.
2013 Acquired UK-based ASL Vision, a technological solutions provider, to improve the Company's advanced drive assistance systems business unit.
Formed a joint venture with Nisshinbo Holdings called Nisshinbo-Continental Precision Machining for the development of valve blocks.
Jan. 2014 Acquired Taizhou Fuju Rubber Belt Manufacture Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of drive belts for automotive aftermarket and general industry applications.
Feb. 2014 Acquired Veyance Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of conveyor belts, hoses, power transmission belts, and air springs, for approximately EUR 1.4 billion.
Apr. 2014 Acquired full ownership of former joint venture, Zytek Automotive, an engineering company which primarily develops conventional, electrical and hybrid drive systems.
Jul. 2014 Acquired 100% ownership of Emitec, a manufacturer of diesel particulate filters and metal substrates for exhaust gas catalysts, for GBP 46 million. Emitec was formerly a 50/50 joint venture between the Company and GKN.
Nov. 2014 ContiTech's Benecke-Kaliko Group acquired Mecaseat's Gorvi S.A., located in Spain, and Mecapol, located in Poland to expand its production of foils for car interiors.
Jan. 2015 Completed acquisition of Veyance Technologies Inc., a U.S. rubber company.
Apr. 2015 Formed joint venture with Belgium-based automotive service group D'leteren called OTA keys S.A., to provide virtual key services for car-sharing companies in Brussels.
Jun. 2015 Formed joint venture with Huayu Automotive Systems called Huayu Continental Brake Systems Co., Ltd. for the development of brake products.
Jul. 2015 Completed acquisition of Elektrobit Automotive Group, a software development company.
Mar. 2016 Acquired High-Resolution 3D Flash Lidar business from Advanced Scientific Concepts, Inc. (ASC)
Oct. 2016 Acquired Hornsuchuch Group, a major manufacturer and designer of functional and compact films, foam laminates, and artificial leather.
Acquired majority stake in Zonar Systems Inc., a specialist in fleet management solutions.
Jul. 2017 Acquired minority share in EasyMile SAS, an autonomous driving company based in France focused on developing driverless electric shuttles.
Acquired Quantum Inventions, a mobility intelligence provider based in Singapore focused on intelligent transportation systems.
Nov. 2017 Acquired Argus Cyber Security, a global leader in automotive cyber security headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Jan. 2018 Acquired a 5% indirect ownership of HERE, a mapping and location data and service provider, from Audi, BMW and Daimler.
Jul. 2018 Acquired VUK, a machine tool manufacturer from the Czech Republic, to enhance its development and production of tire assembly machinery.
Oct. 2018 Acquired Katherin Automotive, a specialist and manufacturer of vehicle antennas.
Nov. 2018 Reached agreement to acquire Cooper-Standard’s anti-vibration systems business, which is scheduled to close in the first half of 2019.
Feb. 2019 Acquired Kathrein Automotive, the automotive division of Kathrein-Werke KG which focuses on developing and manufacturing antenna and satellite technologies.
Apr. 2019 Acquired anti-vibration systems business of Cooper Standard for USD 265.5 million.
Sep. 2019 Acquired minority stake in Cartica AI, a software developer focused on the field of artificial intelligence.
Jan. 2020 Completed divestiture of 50% stake of SAS joint venture to partner Faurecia for EUR 225 million. SAS manufactures complex interior modules.
Sep. 2020 Announced plans for dissolution of 50-50 automotive lighting joint venture formed with Osram.
Oct. 2020 Acquired minority stake in AEye, In., a developer of AI-driven lidar systems for autonomous and assisted driving.
Sep. 2021 Completed spin-off of Vitesco Technologies as an independent company.
Nov. 2021 Signed agreement to acquire Trelleborg's printing solutions business.
Jan. 2024 Dissolved Smart Mobility business area in the Automotive group sector; Restructured ContiTech group sector into three regional Industrial Solutions business areas, an Original Equipment Solutions business area, and the Surface Solutions business area.
Dec. 2024 Formally announced plan to spin off Automotive group sector as a European company by the end of 2025.
Sep. 2025 Completed the spin-off of the Company's Automotive and Contract Manufacturing group sectors into Aumovio, which is now listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. 
Feb. 2026 Completed the sale of ContiTech’s Original Equipment Solutions (OESL) business area to Regent L.P.

Supplemental Information 1

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