Press Release
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Continental opens new dry handling track at Uvalde proving grounds in Texas
· Over three kilometers long, the new track boosts testing capacity at Uvalde
· Expansion forms part of Tire Division’s Vision 2025 growth strategy
Hanover, Germany / Uvalde, Texas, USA, October 2015. In early October, the international tire manufacturer and automotive supplier Continental inaugurated a new dry handling track at its proving grounds at Uvalde, Texas, for tire and vehicle testing. Twelve meters wide and over three kilometers long, the track with its demanding layout offers rich opportunities to test many of the Corporation’s products, including tires, driver assistance systems, and components for automated driving, also when driving at the limit. Continental will be using not only cars but also SUVs, vans, and motorcycles as test vehicles. In terms of layout, the new stretch of blacktop resembles the dry handling track at the Contidrom north of Hanover, but features elements that the German facility does not offer.
The Uvalde proving grounds are used by Continental Tire The Americas, by automakers, and by tire testers from Hanover who are normally based at the Contidrom proving grounds north of the city. From a German viewpoint, the trip to Texas to test new tires makes most sense when wintry weather conditions make testing in Northern and Western Europe impossible.
Since 2011, in the context of its Vision 2025 growth strategy, the Tire Division of Continental has invested more than two billion euros in the creation of additional production capacities. The strategic aim is to create a better global balance which, in the long term, will enable rising worldwide demand for Continental tires to be met by regional production plants in the three regions “The Americas”, “EMEA”, and “APAC”. Moves that have already advanced this aim include the opening of not only the Sumter plant in South Carolina, USA in 2014 but also of tire plants in Russia (2013) and China (2011), as well as the ongoing expansion of Continental’s existing production facilities in Europe.
Continental AG
Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable partner, the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner provides sustainable, safe, comfortable, individual, and affordable solutions. In 2014, the corporation generated preliminary sales of approximately €34.5 billion with its five divisions, Tires, Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, and ContiTech. Continental employs approximately 205,000 people in 53 countries.
www.continental-corporation.com
Tire Division
The Tire Division currently has 24 production and development locations worldwide. The broad product range and continuous investments in R&D make a major contribution to cost-effective and ecologically efficient mobility. As one of the world's leading tire manufacturers with more than 47,000 employees, the Tire Division achieved sales of €9.8 billion in 2014.
Passenger and Light Truck Tires
Continental is one of the leading manufacturers of passenger and light truck tires in Europe and the world's fourth largest passenger tire manufacturer in the original equipment and replacement market. The product development focus of the Continental premium brand is to optimize all safety-relevant characteristics, while simultaneously minimizing rolling resistance.
www.continental-tires.com
Alexander Bahlmann
Head of PR, Passenger and Light Truck Tires
Continental AG
Tire division
Büttnerstrasse 25, 30165 Hanover, Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 511 938 2615
Fax: +49 (0) 511 938 2455
www.continental-tires.com / Klaus Engelhart
Press Spokesman, Passenger and Light Truck/Two-Wheel Tires
Continental AG I Tire division
Büttnerstrasse 25, 30165 Hanover, Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 511 938 2285
Fax: +49 (0) 511 938 2455
www.getyourgrip.com
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Your contact
Klaus Engelhart, Tel.: +49 (0)511 – 938 2285