Continental has inaugurated the €300m (Bt13bn/US$350m) expansion of its tire plant in Rayong, Thailand, with the upgrades intended to boost the facility’s production capacity by an additional three million passenger car and light truck tires per year.
The event also marked the start of local production of radial motorcycle tires at Rayong.
“Our Rayong tire plant is a vital pillar of our global production network,” said Continental CEO Christian Kötz. “With this expansion, we are further strengthening our footprint in Asia-Pacific to deliver locally produced premium car and motorcycle tires to our customers. This investment underlines the strategic importance of Thailand and the APAC region for Continental.”
“Asia-Pacific is a dynamic, fast-growing region and a key driver of our long-term growth plan,” added Dalibor Kalina, head of Continental’s tire business in the APAC region.
“We aim to build on this momentum and grow further with ultra-high-performance tires. We are driven by strong sport performance credentials and a growing SUV-focused portfolio designed for the region’s evolving lifestyles.
“By expanding our plant, we are strengthening our regional supply capabilities, enabling us to respond faster to changing customer demands and support future growth across the Asia-Pacific region.”
Efficient operations, responsible footprint
The site operates rooftop, carport and floating photovoltaic systems with a combined capacity of approximately 6.7MW. A structured water management approach has also enabled the plant to reduce water consumption per unit of production by more than 70%.
“This expansion is a key milestone for us,” said Vignesh Devasenapathy, plant manager of the Continental tire plant in Rayong. “By using state-of-the-art technology and automation, we are making our operations safer, smarter and more efficient. We are a strong partner for the Rayong province, creating 600 additional jobs and driving sustainable local economic growth.
“Furthermore, renewable energy and responsible water management are key priorities for us. Our commitment has earned us two consecutive Safety and Environmental Governance awards from the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand.”
Continental began production at its Rayong plant in 2019, initially focusing on passenger car and light truck tires. Motorcycle tire production followed in 2021.
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