It’s no secret that connectivity and digitalisation are advancing rapidly in the automotive ecosystem and even tech savvy global Tier I component players like Continental are aware of it. The global economic and financial crisis in 2008/2009 presented Continental with several challenges including bringing in change at all levels, especially the rapid transition from an aging technology application to new age technologies.
The task of doing so needed more than just a blueprint in an era that was still associated with losses when big changes took place with the impact of Covid-19 on global businesses.
However, it was new opportunities in emerging electric mobility, automation and autonomous driving technologies that have played an increasingly important role in widening Continental’s product offerings in the past few years.
That the company was serious in intent and wasn’t planning to just sit on its laurels, the initiative to change with an open mind was stressed several times and it was clearly evident at the elaborate TechShow 2023 in Germany, last month.
The message was clear — Continental is moving forward with an ambitious goal: To transform itself from a profitable supplier of components to OEMS to a fullsolution services provider and play the role of an OEM itself, in selected areas of the automotive ecosystem.
The future forward plan has been in the making for a couple of years and the comprehensive exercise involves the three core pillars of the brand represented by ContiTech, Continental Automotive and Continental Tyres respectively. This move aligns perfectly with Continental's global expansion plans and ambitions to lead in digital businesses.
Moving towards automation
This story is from the 1st July 2023 edition of Autocar Professional.
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This story is from the 1st July 2023 edition of Autocar Professional.
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