History

Milestones of more than 140 years of dynamic development

Since its foundation, the Germany-based company Continental has continued to grow - and so has the Business Unit Commercial Vehicle Tires.

1870s – 1990s
2000s – today

1871	Foundation of the Continental–Caoutchouc & Gutta-Percha-Compagnie.
1907	The production plant in Korbach (Germany) is created as an offshoot of the Mitteldeutsche Gummiwarenfabrik Louis Peter AG.
1939	Opening of the tire plant in Hanover (Germany).
1979	Takeover of the European tire operations of Uniroyal, Inc., USA, gives Continental a wider base in Europe.
1985	Takeover of the tire operations of the Austrian company Semperit.
1987	Acquisition of the North American tire manufacturer General Tire, Inc. including the plant in Mount Vernon (USA).
1992/93	Acquisition of the Otrokovice (Czech Republic) plant. Barum becomes part of the Continental Group.
1998	Continental reinforces its position as global tire manufacturer by adding a site in South Africa (Port Elizabeth). Continental establishes its Continental Matador joint venture for the production of commercial vehicle tires in Púchov (Slovakia).

2003	Continental establishes its Continental Sime Tyre joint venture. Acquisition of the Petaling Jaya (Malaysia) plant.
2006	Opening of the Camaçari (Brazil) plant.
2007	Continental acquires a majority interest in Continental Matador Rubber and therefore the entire Púchov Plant with PLT, CVT, ContiTech and R&D operations. The CVT plant, Continental Matador, is renamed to Continental Matador Truck Tires.
2009	Continental acquires the remaining shares of Continental Matador Rubber and Continental Matador Truck Tires, making the Púchov plant a part of the Continental tire manufacturing landscape. Joint venture with Eu-Retec (Pvt) Ltd in Sri Lanka to produce solid tires, adding the plant in Kalutara (Sri Lanka).
2011	Acquisition of the Modi Tyres Company Ltd. including the plants in Modipuram and Partapur (India).
2012	Continental Sime Tyre Sdn. Bhd. becomes a fully owned subsidiary of Continental Corporation and is renamed as Continental Tyre Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
2013	The ContiLifeCycle™ plant in Hanover (Germany) is established as the world's first fully integrated plant for hot retreading tires and rubber recycling.
2016	Ramp up of production of Continental-branded premium agricultural tires in Lousado, Portugal. Bandvulc (B.V. Environmental Ltd.) becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Continental U.K. Group Holdings Limited. Continental inaugurates a newly reconstructed truck tire production hall in its manufacturing facility in Otrokovice, Czech Republic. Groundbreaking for new truck tire plant near Clinton, Mississippi (USA).
2017	Start of radial agricultural tire production in Lousado (Portugal).
2018	Market entry of Continental's digital tire monitoring platform for commercial fleets, ContiConnect.

Continental in numbers

First choice for leading vehicle manufacturers

Almost every third car in Europe is delivered
with tires from Continental.

Multi award winning tires

575 tests since 2007

454 times we have received the highest recommendation.