Press Release
Continental Tire the Americas Plans to Invest more
than $500 Million to Build New Plant in Sumter,
South Carolina
 Approximately 1,700 new jobs for South Carolina
 Increased demand for Continental tires in the United States and the Americas is the
driving force behind these investments
 Included in the new jobs are 80 positions related to an investment of more than
$4 million to expand its Lancaster County, S.C. headquarters
Sumter, S.C. – October 6, 2011. Continental Tire the Americas, LLC (CTA) today announced
that it will build an all-new tire plant in Sumter, S.C. to meet growing demand from both the
retail level and automotive manufacturers. The first phase of production capacity at the plant
in this project is expected to be nearly five million passenger and light truck tires when the
plant reaches full production levels in 2017. A second phase in this announced project is
expected to bring the plant’s capacity to eight million units per year by 2021. Altogether,
those initial phases of the project involve an investment of more than $500 million and the
creation of more than 1,600 jobs.
“This important announcement is part of Continental’s growth strategy worldwide and,
especially in this case, for the U.S. market,” said Nikolai Setzer, member of Continental’s
Executive Board and head of Continental’s global tire business. “Increasing demand for
Continental and General brand passenger and light truck tires in the U.S., as well as the
improved business results for CTA, has made this significant investment possible. On behalf
of the 160,000 employees of Continental worldwide, I would like to offer our sincere thanks to
Governor Haley, the state of South Carolina, the Port Authority, the city of Sumter and
Sumter County.”
CTA’s business growth is highlighted by an annual growth rate of 20 percent in volume for
the passenger and light truck tire business in the Americas region in the past two years.
The new manufacturing facility will be located at a Greenfield site off of U.S. Highway 521 in
Sumter County.
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Your contact:
Kathryn Blackwell, phone: +1 248-393-6593
The announcement was made at a news conference today in Sumter at the Opera House.
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt and Greg A.
Thompson, Chairman of the Sumter Development Board, joined Setzer and Jochen Etzel,
CEO of Continental Tire the Americas, in sharing the good news.
“Continental is a world-class company, and it is truly exciting that they have chosen South
Carolina for this new $500 million investment that will create nearly 1,700 new jobs. This
announcement is a big win for our state,” said Governor Haley.
“Today’s announcement would not have been possible without the strong support of the state
of South Carolina, Governor Haley and Secretary Hitt,” said Etzel. “South Carolina offered us
the most compelling business climate that allows us to create these jobs with competitive pay
and benefits for the people of this great state.”
“Our customers – replacement market retailers and automakers – have told us they need
more Continental and General brand tires,” Etzel said. “Today’s announcement is our
commitment to helping them grow their business – as we grow ours. In 2011 alone, we have
announced manufacturing investments of nearly $1 billion which are dedicated to increasing
our production capacity in the Americas region.”
“In addition to the Greenfield announcement, we are also announcing an investment of more
than $4 million in our Lancaster County, S.C. headquarters to help meet the needs of our
growing workforce. We are looking forward to welcoming 1,700 more people to the
Continental family starting very soon.”
Lancaster County – $4 million investment, 80 jobs
CTA’s headquarters in Lancaster County is home to more than 350 employees. The building
opened in 2009. Due to the significant growth in the CTA business, Continental has been
hiring additional employees at a steady pace. The investment will provide for a 16,000
square foot addition, bringing the total size of the building to 91,000 square feet. The
investment also includes the creation of 80 new jobs over the next four years.
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Your contact:
Kathryn Blackwell, phone: +1 248-393-6593
Details about CTA’s Greenfield Project
State, local and federal programs will provide financial assistance that is instrumental in
bringing this project to the United States and to Sumter. The next step in moving the project
forward will be entering into definitive agreements for these programs.
Continental expects to begin construction of the plant in mid-2012 and complete the facility in
2013. Other important details about the project:

The plant project is expected to create more than 1,600 jobs.

The site is approximately 330 acres and the building is planned to be more
than 1,000,000 square feet.

The facility will plan to produce eight million passenger and light truck tires
annually by the completion of its initial phases.

The facility will produce tires for the replacement tire market and automakers.

Total hiring will be 1,700 in the state of South Carolina, including the
headquarter expansion.

Final hiring should be completed by 2020.
“Today’s announcement further strengthens South Carolina’s membership in the automotive
club. This is also the fourth announcement this year involving the recruitment of 500 or more
jobs,” said Hitt.
“Somehow the word ‘big’ just doesn’t seem big enough. In a matter of a few short years, this
new facility will go from an idea to one of the largest economic drivers in our community. At
more than $500 million, it’s the largest industrial investment the county has ever seen. And at
1,600 jobs, it will have an impact not only on Sumter County and its people, but on workers
and families throughout the region,” said Greg A. Thompson, chairman of the Sumter
Economic Development Board. “We welcome Continental Tire to Sumter County, and we
couldn’t be more excited about both its future and our own.”
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Your contact:
Kathryn Blackwell, phone: +1 248-393-6593
Significant Investment and Expansion News for the Americas
In March 2011, CTA announced a $220 million investment to expand production capacity at
its tire plant located in Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil. The investment will create 400 new jobs and
double capacity in the plant.
In May, 2011, the company announced that it was investing $224 million – and adding 444
new jobs – in its Mt. Vernon, Ill. tire plant. Another element of the CTA growth strategy, this
investment will increase capacity by nearly four million tires at Mt. Vernon.
About Continental Corporation
With sales of €26 billion in 2010, 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 has close to 160,000 employees in 45
countries.
Media Contact:
Kathryn Blackwell
Vice President
Communications and Marketing, NAFTA Region
Continental Automotive
One Continental Drive
Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326
Phone: 001 248-393-6593, Fax: 001 248-393-5227
E-Mail: Kathryn.Blackwell@continental-corporation.com
Media database: www.mediacenter.continental-corporation.com
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Your contact:
Kathryn Blackwell, phone: +1 248-393-6593