Press Release
Interview with Dr. Michael Korpiun, head of fleet sales and marketing, Continental
Commercial Vehicle Tires
An all-round package for Europe
Continental is offering the transport industry a new extensive all-round package for commercial vehicle tires entitled “Conti 360°”. What services can Conti customers expect?
Dr. Korpiun: We have completely revamped our package for transport fleets operating across
Europe with the Conti 360° Fleet Services. We are offering our customers a unique package
of services related to commercial vehicle tires in cooperation with ADAC TruckService and
our local service partners. This begins with the purchase of the tires and stretches from immediate assistance for breakdowns, retreading, regular support and fleet inspection to business evaluations of all costs incurred.
What is the advantage of a pan-European service package?
Dr. Korpiun: Large, internationally operating fleets want partners, who also accompany them
beyond national borders with a constantly high level of services. Thanks to the collaboration
with ADAC TruckService, we are excellently positioned for our customers in the eight key
European markets of Germany, the UK, France, Belgium, Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland
and Spain. The international concentration process experienced in the industry over the last
decade demands complete solutions across borders. We have provided this in an ideal way
with the new Conti 360° service package. Fleets operating across Europe can therefore rely
on a standardized cross-border range of services from one source. This means business
confidence across Europe and a clearly defined package for customers at fixed calculable
costs – regardless of which country the company is based in and where their vehicles are
traveling. There is no need for discussions about quality and the scope of services.
The new service also includes the breakdown services?
The collaboration with ADAC TruckService creates a unique package for on-road services
covering breakdowns too. There is no need for the often time-consuming search for local
breakdown services and service partners. Customers are looked after perfectly in their native
language by the internationally operating European headquarters. Downtime and costs are
kept to a minimum thanks to direct forwarding to the local service partner. Payment and services on site are processed through the Conti service contract from one source at precisely
defined conditions. These integrated services are a very useful and cost-saving instrument
above all in international long-distance transport.
Is your new package directed only at large transport fleets?
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Your contact person:
Udo Brandes, phone: +49 511 938-2923
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Due to the modular structure of our service package, our customers can put together their
Conti fleet contract exactly for their requirement profile depending on the size of the company
and operations. This starts with the choice between traditional tire purchases or kilometer
contracts. It also ranges from fleet services like condition inspections and replacement management to differentiated provision of fleet data for business cost calculations. Therefore the
Conti 360° Fleet Service is indeed an all-round package for fleet operators that has previously not been available in this form and depth. A tailor-made package for all services related to
commercial vehicle tires can be put together according to the size of the company and its
activities. Tire handling can be completely outsourced to Continental partners here.
Can you also use the Conti 360° service for leased and rental vehicles?
The services can, of course, also be used with these forms of vehicle financing – either directly through the Conti partner or within the framework of a full-service contract with the
leasing or rental vehicle provider. Today customers buy a complete transport service with
their modern equipment that has to fit in the company’s business concept.
Why should tire customers make use of the services from Continental and not those from the
dealer?
The Conti360°FleetService package is, above all, aimed at cross-border road transport. Individual dealers cannot guarantee these services. If the tire costs are one of the main considerations, then it should be pointed out that these costs no longer represent the simple purchase price, but cover the whole life including retreading and the fuel saved thanks to the
excellent rolling resistance.
We have confronted the changed requirements in European fleet business with the tires and
services. Our new types of high-tech tires for regional and long-distance operations are capable of surpassing the expectations in terms of cost savings, mileage and driving comfort. In
cooperation with ADAC TruckService, we are now also offering the best complete service
with standardized rules across Europe to go with the best tires on the market.
Continental’s Commercial Vehicle Tires Division is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of premium truck, bus and industrial tires with a workforce of around 8,000 and a turnover of €1.1bn. The division makes a noticeable contribution to reducing costs in goods and passenger transport with tailormade products ranging from fleet services to fuel-saving, environmentally-friendly commercial vehicle
tires. All new tires provide convincing proof of the division’s research and development expertise. The
new products are characterized by low rolling resistance, high mileages and a high level of safety.
Their retreadability extends their life and relieves the burden on your budget. The European brands
are Continental, Uniroyal, Semperit, Barum and Matador. Conti360° is a European fleet service that
guarantees mobility with its extensive, quick-reacting network of service partners.
With sales of approximately €20 billion in 2009 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 enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also a competent
partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently employs approximately
138,000 in 46 countries.
Your contact person:
Udo Brandes, phone: +49 511 938-2923
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Contact for journalists:
Udo Brandes
Head of Press and PR I Division Commercial
Vehicle Tires
Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
Büttnerstrasse 25
D-30165 Hanover
Phone: +49 511 938-2923
Fax: +49 511 938-2496
E-mail: udo.brandes@conti.de
Online media database: www.mediacenter.continental-corporation.com
Your contact person:
Udo Brandes, phone: +49 511 938-2923