Continental has celebrated the grand opening of the fourth expansion phase of its tire plant in Hefei, China, which recently received an International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus sustainability certification.The company says the expansion will increase the facility’s annual production capacity to 18 million passenger and light truck tires by 2027. The total investment in the Hefei site now stands at close to €1bn (US$1.1bn), with the expansion creating 400 additional jobs in the coming years.
“Our Hefei plant is a cornerstone of Continental Tires’ rapid growth in China and the Asia-Pacific region. As with any project of this scale and magnitude, the Hefei plant phase 4 expansion required an extensive amount of collaboration of different parties inside and outside the company, in addition to trust from our local partners,” said Jeff Wang, Hefei plant manager.
The expansion expands Continental’s production of ultra high-performance (UHP) tires – those designed for high driving dynamics and measuring 18in and above – for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) market.
The Hefei plant is equipped with advanced automation technology, particularly in the tire curing process, ensuring a digital, ergonomic and sustainable working environment. The site also prioritizes renewable energy use, with rooftop solar panels generating 27GWh of electricity per year.
Since its opening in 2011, the Hefei plant has been manufacturing tires for the APAC region. With this latest expansion, Continental aims to further strengthen its presence in Asia-Pacific, particularly in the Chinese market.
“Our latest expansion further solidifies our ‘in the market, for the market’ approach. It enables us to meet the demands of our customers in the Asia-Pacific region even better. Expanding our plant in Hefei for the fourth time is a testament to our business success in these markets,” said Dalibor Kalina, head of Continental’s replacement tire business, Asia-Pacific.
