History 1871 - 1926



1871

Continental-Caoutchouc- und Gutta-Percha Compagnie is founded in Hanover as a joint stock company. Manufacturing at the main factory in Vahrenwalder Street includes soft rubber products, rubberized fabrics, solid tyres for carriages and bicycles.

1882

The rampant horse is adapted as trademark.

1892

Continental is the first German company to manufacture pneumatic tyres for bicycles.

1898

Production of automobile pneumatic tyres without tread pattern starts in Hanover-Vahrenwald.

1900

The first German airship LZ 1 uses Continental's balloon material to seal the gas bags.

1901

The first Daimler-produced car to be called Mercedes achieves a sensational victory on Continental pneumatics in the Nice-Salon-Nice car race.

1904

Continental presents the world's first automobile tyre with a patterned tread.

1905

Continental produces riveted anti-skid tires, a forerunner of steel-studded tyres.

1907

The first edition of Continental's Road Atlas for motorists and motorcyclists is published.

1908

Continental invents the detachable rim for sedans - a remarkable innovation to help save time and effort when changing a tyre.

1909

Specimens of synthetic rubber developed at the Bayer laboratories are successfully vulcanized at Continental and processed to make the first test tyres. Louis Blériot, the pioneer aviator, writes history with the first flight across the English Channel. Continental Aeroplan material covers the fuselage and wings of his plane.

1912

Construction of an administration building designed by architect Peter Behrens begins in Vahrenwalder Street. in 1986, this building is bought by the Hanover City Council to house a technology center.

1914

Triple victory for Daimlers fitted with Continental tyres at the French Grand Prix.

1921

The company's 50th anniversary sees Continental as the first German company to bring cord tyre onto the market. The stiff linen square-woven fabric is thus replaced by the more pliable cord fiber fabric. The first giant pneumatic tyres are made by Continental and replace the solid tyres used until that time on commercial vehicles.