Press Release
Quotes IAA Press Conference 2015
Dr. Elmar Degenhart, CEO Continental:
Goals
“We systematically work towards three fundamental goals: zero accidents,interconnected and
intelligent vehicles with accordingly more comfort and convenience and clean air.”
“Our three focal points are:
1.
Preparing the way from assisted to automated driving.
2.
Technically implementing the largely complete, intelligent interconnectivity of vehicles,
vehicle users, and the traffic infrastructure.
3.
And increasing the efficiency of drives and developing electric mobility.
Assisted and Automated Driving
“Zero accidents in road traffic – that is no longer a utopia.”
“The key for zero accidends in road traffic is assisted driving.”
“With systems that monitor the vehicle’s surroundings, we are ultimately putting the chauffeur
button for automated driving in the car. With electronics and software, this button is offering
additional freedom. This freedom can be used, but doesn’t have to be.”
“Our experience has shown that acceptance of automated driving rises as confidence in the
advanced driver assistance systems increases.”
“We are now involving the lawmakers. The time has come to lay the legislative groundwork for the
use of automated driving.”
“There must soon be a legal framework for highly automated driving – on freeways, for example –
so that it is legally possible for drivers to no longer constantly monitor the situation on the road. We
expect to encounter such situations in practice from about 2020 onwards.”
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Enno Pigge, Telefon: +49 511 938-1622
-2“We anticipate fully-automated driving in certain driving situations to be ready from 2025 onwards.
Fully automated means that drivers can devote much of their time to other activities from the start
to the end of the trip.”
“For fully-automated driving, our engineers are taking on six key challenges here: sensor
technology, cluster connectivity, human-machine dialog, system architecture, failure safety, and
acceptance of automated driving.”
Complete System – from intelligent Tires to the electronic Horizon
“The IAA will see the world premiere of our new Continental SportContact 6. The tire offers
maximum grip at speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour. A high-tech tire – just as innovative and
valuable as new state-of-the-art electronics. After all, it’s such tires that transfer the car’s power
intelligently on to the road and ensure highly reliable road-holding.”
“In the future, we will be installing sensors in the tires, which will enable the car to detect the
condition of the road’s surface. Tires will therefore become a key part of our sensor network in the
car. On this basis, we are working on a complete system for anticipatory driving that is able to
learn.”
“Our electronic horizon expands the 300-meter range of the sensors. Thanks to this system, a
vehicle can detect what is lurking behind the next curve.”
“Software is the "new wheel" of the industry. Nowadays, nothing can function without it.”
“We currently make about 60 percent of our automotive sales with advanced driver assistance
systems and other digitalized technologies such as electronics, sensor systems and software. Last
year, those sales exceeded €12 billion. “We expect that, in the next five years, growth here will
outperform the average growth in the automotive sector.
Activities to lower fuel consumption and reduce emissions for cleaner air
“Our turbochargers lower CO2 emissions of new vehicles by up to 7 percent, and by up to 13
percent in combination with direct gasoline injection systems.”
“Turbocharger hose lines and transmission crossbeams are becoming increasingly lighter thanks
to the use of high-performance plastics.”
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Ihr Kontakt:
Enno Pigge, Telefon: +49 511 938-1622
-3“The latest generation of our truck tires saves around 4.6 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers –
thanks to improved rolling resistance.”
“With the help of our static electronic horizon in trucks alone, we have been able to help users save
over 1500 liters of diesel per truck each year since 2012.”
“Our industry is feeling the increasing pressure of ever stricter, extremely demanding emission
regulations. This makes the mild hybrid with a 48-volt on-board power supply so important. It has
what it takes to become a popular hybrid because it is relatively affordable and can be used in all
vehicle classes. We are going to start mass production in 2016. Not only in Europe, but also in
Asia and the U.S.A.”
“A pure electric drive would be a big step in the direction of lower emissions generated directly by
the vehicle. But due to the limitations of the current battery technology, such vehicles will remain a
niche product for the years to come. We believe that this breakthrough will not take place until one
of the next cell generations is launched.”
“The future starts earlier with Continental.”
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 sales of approximately
€34.5 billion with its five divisions Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tires, and ContiTech. Continental
currently employs more than 205,000 people in 53 countries.
Contact for journalists:
Enno Pigge
Press Spokesperson for Innovation &
Technology, Continental AG
Phone: +49 (0) 511 938-1622
Cell: +49 173 6856366,
E-mail: enno.pigge@conti.de
The press release is available in the following languages: German, English
Press portal:
www.continental-press.com
IAA portal:
www.continental-iaa.com
Media database:
www.continental-mediacenter.com
Video portal:
videoportal.continental-corporation.com/
Ihr Kontakt:
Enno Pigge, Telefon: +49 511 938-1622