Press Release
Continental and Auro Technologies bring the new
true 3D Immersive Sound-Experience into the Car
 From enhanced Stereo to immersive three-dimensional sound: Continental and
Auro Technologies partner to create a total new sound experience for vehicles
 Continental integrates Auro Technologies’ software for automotive manufacturers
and suppliers worldwide
Deer Park (IL/ USA)/Mol, Belgium/Wetzlar, Germany, July 29th 2014. Drawing on over 60
years of experience in car radios and a vast multimedia know-how of Continental and Auro
Technologies’ revolutionary Auro-3D sound technology, Auro Technologies and Continental
have announced today to jointly bring true 3D sound to in-car infotainment systems.
First integrated into digital cinemas as Auro 11.1. by Barco, the Auro-3D format is the next
generation in audio, adding a Height Layer around the audience, the final and missing
dimension to traditional 5.1 Surround Sound, to fully immerse the listener in a cocoon of lifelike sound, transforming the vehicle into a jazz club or concert hall. Combining Continental’s
expertise in Automotive Infotainment with Auro Technologies’ Auro-3D format will enable
vehicle manufacturers worldwide to offer a revolutionary sound experience for their
customers. In addition the Auro-3D format is fully scalable, so Continental is able to configure
it exactly to the customers’ needs – sources can range from Mono to native 3D audio, and
speaker layouts can range from simple setups up to Auro 22.1 speaker arrays.
"It's no secret that it's not just accelerating and cornering that contribute to a more intensive
driving experience, it is also the quality of the entertainment. With the immersive Auro-3D
audio format, our many years of experience in developing radios and multimedia systems,
and our expertise as a systems integrator, we are helping vehicle manufacturers to give their
customers an entirely new sound and driving experience," says Johann Hiebl, head of the
Continental Infotainment & Connectivity business unit.
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Your contact:
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Press Release
“Thanks to our collaboration with Continental, drivers will soon be able to enjoy their entire
music archive in brilliant 3D sound, creating a much higher emotional experience. The Auro3D technology offers a natural three-dimensional spread of sound, making it easy for the
brain to analyze sound and bring a totally new and more relaxing automotive experience to
all drivers. The closer to natural sound, the more immersive the experience”, stated Wilfried
Van Baelen, Auro Technologies’ CEO.
The Auro-3D technology provides probably the most immersive and first class-quality
listening experience, far superseding CD quality, in all channels. The technology is fully
scalable via the innovative Auro-Matic algorithm which allows all legacy content (Mono,
Stereo, Surround) to be upmixed to create an immersive three-dimensional sound
experience whatever the source. Furthermore, lots of exciting content is coming up in the
Auro-3D format in both film and music over the coming months, including 15 new features by
Dreamworks Animation that will be mixed in an Auro 11.1 format.
Continental acts as the system integrator, as licensee and as the licenser, who licenses the
Auro-3D technology to automotive suppliers and automotive manufacturers worldwide.
Disclaimer: Auro-3D® and Auro-Matic® are registered trademarks and service marks of Auro
Technologies NV.
About Continental
With sales of around €33.3 billion in 2013, Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers
worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis,
instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires, and technical elastomers,
Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also an
expert partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently employs around 182,000
people in 49 countries.
The Automotive Group with its three divisions Chassis & Safety (sales of approximately €7.3 billion in
2013, roughly 36,500 employees), Powertrain (sales of approximately €6.3 billion in 2013, roughly
32,400 employees) and Interior (sales of approximately €6.6 billion in 2013, roughly 34,400
employees) achieved sales of approximately €20 billion in 2013. The Automotive Group is present in
more than 170 locations worldwide. As a partner of the automotive and commercial vehicle industry, it
develops and produces innovative products and systems for a modern automotive future, in which
cars provide individual mobility and driving pleasure consistent with driving safety, environmental
responsibility, and cost-efficiency.
The Chassis & Safety division develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake and chassis
control systems, sensors, driver assistance systems, airbag electronics and sensors, windshield
washer systems, and electronic air suspension systems. Its core competence is the integration of
active and passive driving safety in ContiGuard. The Powertrain division integrates innovative and
efficient system solutions for vehicle powertrains. The comprehensive range of products includes
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Your contact:
Sebastian Fillenberg, phone: +49 6196 87-3709
Press Release
gasoline and diesel injection systems, engine management and transmission control, including
sensors and actuators, as well as fuel supply systems, and components and systems for hybrid and
electric drives. Information management is at the very heart of the Interior division, which provides a
range of products that includes instrument clusters and multifunctional displays, control units,
electronic car-entry systems, tire-monitoring systems, radios, multimedia and navigation systems,
climate control systems, telematics solutions, and cockpits.
About Auro Technologies
Auro Technologies is a spin-off of the Galaxy Studios Group and owner of the Auro-3D® Technology
Suite. The Auro-3D® Concept and Listening Formats are designed by Wilfried Van Baelen, founder
and CEO of Galaxy Studios and Auro Technologies. Galaxy Studios is renowned worldwide for its
state-of-the-art leadership in audio innovation for music and sound for film. The Auro-3D® suite offers
ground-breaking, easy-to-use and unprecedented levels of sound reproduction capabilities to the
professional, automotive, broadcast and consumer electronics markets (such as gaming, smart
phones, multimedia PC, notebooks, tablets, audio players, digital TV, media libraries and packaged
media). For more information, visit the Auro-3D® website.
Press contacts:
Continental:
Sebastian Fillenberg
External Communications
Continental / Interior division
Sodener Strasse 9
65824 Schwalbach am Taunus, Germany
Phone: +49 6196 87-3709
E-mail: sebastian.fillenberg@continentalcorporation.com
Edelman PR for Auro:
Lisa Bronselaer/ Eline Van Roey
Edelman Brussels
+32 2 548 02 63/ +32 2 548 02 72
Lisa.bronselaer@edelman.com/
Eline.vanroey@edelman.com
This press release is available in the following languages: German, English
Further information on Continental is
available at:
www.continental-corporation.com
Online press portal:
www.continental-press.com
Your contact:
Sebastian Fillenberg, phone: +49 6196 87-3709
Online video portal:
videoportal.continental-corporation.com/