Continental completes fourth expansion at China tire plant

Hefei, China – Continental AG has completed the fourth phase of expansion at its tire manufacturing plant in Hefei, brining total investment in the plant to over €1 billion.

The expansion boosts capacity at the plant by 4 million units a year, to a total of 18 million units of passenger car and truck & bus tires by 2027.

The project will also create 400 additional jobs at the manufacturing facility, Continental announced 20 June.

With the investment, Continental said it increases, amongst other things, the overall production capacity of “technologically more complex” ultra high-performance (UHP) tires for the markets in the region Asia-Pacific (APAC).

The facility features “advanced automation technology” including in its curing process, said Continental, noting that the plant is “a modern, digital, ergonomic, and sustainable working place.”

In terms of sustainability, the unit has rooftop solar panels with the capacity to generate 27 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year.

This contributes to 18% of the total electricity currently needed for tire production.

The unit has also recently received the international sustainability and carbon certification (ISCC) plus certificate for use of sustainable materials.

Operational since 2011, the Hefei facility produces passenger car, truck & bus as well as racing tires for the Asia Pacific region and is Continental’s only tire production plant in China.