History 1971 - 1995



1971

Europe's largest hose manufacturing facilities are set up at the Korbach plant. The entire hose production is transferred from Hanover to Korbach.

1972

Continental launches the studless ContiContact winter tyre.

1974

Continental is the first manufacturer to supply the European automotive industry with extrusion-blow-molded polyurethane gaiters.

1976

In Northeim, one of Europe's largest conveyor belt production lines comes on stream.

1978

Purchase of Techno-Chemie, Frankfurt, one of Germany's leading hose couplers.

1979

Takeover of the European tyre operations of Uniroyal, Inc., USA, gives Continental a wider base in Europe (photo: Aachen plant).

1983

Continental hydromounts - special bearing elements used in engines for damping vibrations and noise - are mass-produced for the automotive industry.

1985

Takeover of the tire operations of the Austrian company Semperit.

1987

Acquisition of the North American tyre manufacturer General Tire, Inc. The company has been operating under the name of Continental Tire North America, Inc., since 2001.

1989/90

A joint venture is set up together with the Portuguese company Mabor for the production of tyres in Lousado. 1993 sees complete takover of the tyre activities and of a factory producing textile cord.

1991

The industrial products operations are reorganzied under the ContiTech umbrella brand. With its ContiEcoContact tyre, Continental is the first manufacturer to launch an environment-friendly passenger tyre.

1993

The majority holding in the Czech company Barum comprises a passenger and commercial vehicle tyre plant in Otrokovice as well as a dealer organization with about 50 outlets. Continental currently has approximately 2000 tyre retailers and franchises in 15 European countries, including various retail organizations such as Vergölst. Benecke-Kaliko AG is integrated into the ContiTech division. Key products are leatherette and sheeting.

1994

Joint venture between ContiTech and the Slovakian company Vegum for the production of rubber extrusions for the European automotive industry. In 1996, the agreement is extended to include molded products.

1995

The Continental Automotive Systems division is established to intensify the systems business with the automotive industry. ContiTech takes over the power transmission products activities of TBA Belting Ltd.