News Release
Passenger & LT Media Contacts:
Dana Zamalloa
704-583-8165
dana.zamalloa@conti-na.com
Mariellen Fagan
Crowl, Montgomery & Clark
330-494-6999, ext. 201
mfagan@crowlinc.com
Continental Tire North America Brings Environmental
Responsibility to the Forefront
CHARLOTTE – (November 4, 2008) – In its efforts to be a good global neighbor,
Continental Tire North America, Inc. is expanding on its commitment to local and
national environmental responsibility to help improve fuel efficiency, protect the
environment and build community with a new program called “Continental Tire
Responsibility.”
“Continental Tire has been cognizant of the need to protect the environment for many
years. Some of our first efforts at that were our tire lines that include silica in their
compounds, which reduces rolling resistance and CO2 emissions,” said Andreas
Gerstenberger, executive vice president of sales and marketing, Continental Tire North
America, Inc. “Now, we’re prepared to take this a step further, and are developing tires
with increased fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions, using sustainable materials
and processes.
“Seventeen years ago, Continental launched a tire called the ContiEcoContact, as the
first tire manufacturer to launch an environmentally-friendly passenger tire featuring
special fuel-saving and high-mileage benefits. What we learned from that line, in terms
of lowered rolling resistance and fuel efficiency, we are using in all our Continental and
General products today,” he continued. “We found that we are able to combine both
performance and lowered rolling resistance, without compromising either characteristic.
And we’re bringing this combination to market with our new ExtremeContact line of tires,
launching in 2009.”
Continental has long been a global supplier to the original equipment automotive
manufacturers, who require that rolling resistance and fuel efficiency are built into the
tires they put on their vehicles at the factory.
“Continental continually works with its OE partners toward finding new ways to increase
fuel efficiency and rolling resistance in our products,” Gerstenberger said.
This movement toward producing a more environmentally-responsible tire also dovetails
with the fact that major automobile manufacturers around the world are currently
pushing “Green” vehicle alternatives, with hybrid, diesel and electric engines. In fact,
every major automotive brand exhibiting at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show showed some
version of an environmentally-friendly vehicle – including ultra-high performance Ferrari.
But the campaign is not limited solely to the company’s tires, Gerstenberger pointed out.
The responsibility theme will trickle down into Continental’s corporate practices. By
2012, the company is committed to reducing energy consumption by 18 percent over
2007 levels; water usage by 17 percent; waste by 16.3 percent and CO2 emissions by
15.5 percent.
On the manufacturing side, all plants are required to maintain ISO 14001 certification, in
order to supply the automotive manufacturers. “Continental uses the same high
environmental standards worldwide in all tire plants,” Gerstenberger said, noting that the
company’s Mt. Vernon, IL plant has repeatedly been awarded the “Illinois Governor’s
Pollution Prevention Award.”
Building on the community theme, Continental Tire is actively supporting community
programs including breast cancer awareness and child seat safety efforts.
“We are continually aligning the production, quality and performance of our products
with environmental soundness, and we strive to conduct all of our activities in an
environmentally conscious manner,” he said. “Going forward, each and every employee
is obligated to protect the environment, and we will continue to avoid harmful emissions
and waste. Continental is not just focused on a green message but a responsibility
message which encompasses Community, Environment and Fuel Efficiency.”
For media information, visit www.ctnamedia.com.
With targeted annual sales of more than $40 billion for 2008, the Continental Corporation is one of the top
automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for the
powertrain and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical
elastomers, the corporation contributes towards enhanced driving safety and protection of the global
climate. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. Today, the
corporation employs approximately 150,000 people at nearly 200 locations in 36 countries.
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