Press Release
Xavier Pujol takes charge of the Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Business Unit at Continental Powertrain
 Equipped with comprehensive experience of the automotive and electronics sectors, 51-year-old Pujol was until recently responsible for the Continental plant in
Rubí, Spain
Regensburg/Nuremberg, May 4, 2012. Effective May 1, 2012, graduate engineer Xavier
Pujol from Spain is to take charge of the Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Business Unit at international automotive supplier Continental. The HEV Business Unit, which is based in Nuremberg and forms part of Continental‘s Powertrain Division, develops and manufactures power
electronics, electric motors and energy storage systems for hybrid and electric vehicles. In
Xavier Pujol the Business Unit now has an insider at the helm: the 51-year-old who hails from
Catalonia has been with Continental since 2006 and until recently was responsible for the
entire Rubí site near Barcelona as Site and Plant Manager. In his new role, Pujol takes over
from Executive Board Member and Powertrain President José A. Avila, who had held interim
responsibility for running the HEV Business Unit.
Along with his comprehensive automotive expertise, Pujol also commands extensive experience of the consumer electronics sector, with an impressive track record in both products and
production. The Sony factory in Spain, where Pujol was responsible for production operations
from 1994 to 2006, won a Lean Excellence Award as the best Sony plant outside Japan. And
under his management, the Continental plant in Rubí was twice awarded with a “Lean” prize.
“In view of the increasing electrification of the powertrain, the HEV Business Unit is immensely important for us. So we are delighted that, in Mr. Pujol, we have been able to recruit a highly competent manager for this key area,” said Powertrain President Avila. “Under his aegis,
lean principles were systematically introduced in Rubí and marked improvements achieved in
terms of quality, productivity and cost structures. Added to which he maintains a pronounced
customer focus in all of his activities across the board.”
Pujol, who was born in Tarragona, Spain, followed his studies of Engineering with Master’s
degrees in Business Administration, as well as in Project Management and Product Design.
He began his career in 1982 with consumer electronics manufacturer Philips, then in 1986
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joined automotive supplier United Technologies Automotive (UTA, acquired by Lear Corporation in 1999). At UTA, Pujol spent the first three years in charge of production engineering at
United Technologies MAI in Spain, then from 1993 onwards he managed a United Technologies Gate factory in Italy. Between these two roles he spent several years working as a manager and partner with Spanish electronics supplier SMD Ingenieros. In 1994 Xavier Pujol
moved to the Japanese electronics group Sony, where for almost twelve years he was head
of production at subsidiary Sony España S.A., before joining Continental Automotive Spain at
the beginning of 2006.
To take up his new management role in Germany, Xavier Pujol is moving to Nuremberg with
his wife and two children.
With sales of €30.5 billion in 2011, 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 approximately 167,000 employees in 46
countries.
Electric Mobility: Continental has been investing in the development and optimization of climatefriendly systems and components for alternative drives for over ten years. In 100 series projects for 20
manufacturers worldwide, around 1,600 specialists are currently working on further developing existing concepts as well as new innovations for hybrid and electric vehicles. To ensure safe, efficient,
networked and comfortable mobility, Continental is bringing together the corporation’s expertise in integration, energy optimization, drive management, vehicle safety, information management and tires.
Hybrid and electric vehicle components from all business units can be adapted to specific vehicle requirements worldwide, allowing them to be used in almost all vehicle classes and drive types.
The Automotive Group has three divisions: Chassis & Safety (approx. 6.5 billion euros in revenue
last year with 33,000 employees), Powertrain (approx. 5.8 billion euros in revenue in 2011 with 31,000
employees) and Interiors (approx. 6.1 billion euros in revenue last year with 32,000 employees). The
group had total revenues of approximately 18.4 billion euros. The Automotive Group is active at more
than 170 locations across the world. It develops and manufactures innovative products for cars and
trucks, allowing the concept of individual cars and driving enjoyment to coexist with safety, responsibility for the environment and considerations of economy.
The Chassis & Safety Division designs and manufactures electronic and hydraulic brake and chassis
systems, sensors, driver-assistance systems, airbag electronic controls and sensors, windshieldcleaning systems and electronic air-suspension systems. Our core competence involves integrating
active and passive safety systems into ContiGuard. The Powertrain Division devises innovative and
efficient drive-train system solutions. Its products range from gasoline and diesel injection systems
through engine and transmission controls, sensors, actuators and fuel-transport systems, to components and systems for hybrid and electric vehicles. The Interior Division deals with information management through such products as instruments and multi-function displays, control and monitoring
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devices, electronic entry systems, tire-information systems, radios, multimedia and navigation systems, air-conditioning controls, telematic solutions, and cockpits.
For inquiries or additional information, please contact:
Simone Geldhäuser
External Communications
Continental
Division Powertrain
Siemensstr. 12
93055 Regensburg
Telephone: +49 941 790-61302
Fax: +49 941 790-99 61302
E-Mail: simone.geldhaeuser@continental-corporation.com
www.continental-automotive.de
Ihr Ansprechpartner:
Simone Geldhäuser, Tel: +49 941 790 61302
www.continental-corporation.com