Continental Presents “Vision 2030” Strategic Program for the Tyre Business Area

Continental has set out its new strategic program for the Tyre business area.  Its “Vision 2030” is focused on the systematic customer-centric alignment of the organisation and all its business activities. In addition, it is looking at ways it can set itself apart from the competition in respect of sustainability and digital solutions.

In the passenger and light truck tyres segment, the focus will be on growing the global business with tyres for electric vehicles and ultra-high-performance tyres. In the truck and bus tyre segment, the Conti360° fleet services offering will be a key driver across all regions. “Excellent tyres are and will remain our DNA. They have made us one of the world’s largest manufacturers. Now, with our ‘Vision 2030’ strategic program, we are setting the stage to build on what is already a position of strength. Going forward, smart digital tyre solutions and the realisation of ambitious sustainability goals will be decisive for our success and as differentiators in the marketplace,” said Christian Kötz, head of the Tyres business area and a member of Continental’s Executive Board.

Going forward, with its premium portfolio of passenger, truck and specialty tyres, Continental will continue to stand for innovative peak performance in tyre technology. In the future, this will be complemented by an ever-expanding service offering and aligned even more precisely with different customer segments. On top of this, in recent years Continental has pursued the targeted expansion of its worldwide production network. At the company’s state-of-the-art production plants, innovations such as fully automated tyre warehouses and the cross-company rollout of a global digital manufacturing system will support even more efficient and environmentally compatible production in the future.

Continental will continue to systematically develop new business models and create an entire ecosystem of smart digital solutions centered on its premium tyres. As one of the world’s largest suppliers of electronics, sensor systems and software in the mobility industry, Continental has a decisive competitive edge in this respect. At the same time, the tyre manufacturer will also enter development partnerships with customers and other technology firms with the aim of becoming the global leader for service-based digital solutions by 2030.

Continental is currently demonstrating the added value that it will create for its customers going forward by networking tyres, sensors, telemetry data, algorithms and the cloud. The resultant smart digital solutions will help to ensure that, in the future, tyres are serviced or replaced precisely when necessary. This will lead to a substantial increase in safety and productivity, while at the same time cutting costs.

In the sustainability sector too, Continental is pursuing ambitious goals and aiming to become the most progressive manufacturer in the tyre industry by 2030. With this in mind, back in April 2020, all the relevant projects and activities worldwide were brought under the umbrella of the newly created Sustainability Department.

In order to arrive at a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly tyres of the future in respect of production, use and recyclability, Continental systematically invests in research and development in the fields of new technologies, alternative materials and environmentally compatible production processes. Through these efforts, by 2050 the tyre manufacturer is aiming to gradually transition to 100 percent sustainably produced materials in its tyre products.

The Tyres business area is also the industry leader in the efficient and sustainable use of water and energy. As a result of years of hard work, today Continental already consumes 55 percent less water and 17 percent less energy than the industry average per metric ton of tyres produced. By 2030, the aim is to achieve savings of an additional 20 percent in each case.