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History

150 YEARS OF INNOVATION AND PROGRESS

For 150 years, we've been passionate about tyres.

We have a history of success going all the way back to 1871, when our company was first established in Hanover, Germany.

Wherever people strive to turn their ideas of mobility into reality, we’re ready to support them. It's a common thread running through every era of our history; our technologies, systems and service solutions make mobility and transport more sustainable, safer, more convenient, more customised, and more affordable.

There’s quite a lot of ground to cover, but here’s a summary of our key phases in 150 years of innovation and progress – and a tantalising glimpse into our future.

1870s – 1990s
2000s – today

1871	Foundation of the Continental–Caoutchouc & Gutta-Percha-Compagnie.
1907	Our production plant in Korbach (Germany) was created as an offshoot of the Mitteldeutsche Gummiwarenfabrik Louis Peter AG.
1939	Opening of our tyre plant in Hanover (Germany).
1979	Takeover of the European tyre operations of Uniroyal, Inc., USA, gives us a wider base in Europe.
1985	Takeover of the tyre operations of the Austrian company Semperit.
1987	Acquisition of the North American tyre manufacturer General Tire, Inc. including the plant in Mount Vernon (USA).
1992/93	Acquisition of the Otrokovice (Czech Republic) plant. Barum becomes part of our Continental Group.
1998	We reinforce our position as a global tyre manufacturer by adding a site in South Africa (Port Elizabeth).
1999	Acquisition of the plant in Púchov (Slovakia).

2003	We established our Continental Sime Tyre joint venture. Acquisition of the Petaling Jaya (Malaysia) plant.
2006	Opening of our Camaçari (Brazil) plant.
2007	We acquired a majority interest in the Slovak company Continental Matador Rubber s.r.o.
2009	Joint venture with Eu-Retec (Pvt) Ltd in Sri Lanka to produce solid tyres, 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	Our ContiLifeCycle™ plant in Hanover (Germany) is established as the world's first fully integrated plant for hot retreading tyres and rubber recycling.

Continental in numbers

First choice for leading vehicle manufacturers

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

Multi award-winning tyres

575 tests since 2007

454 times we have received the highest recommendation.