Continental Celebrates First 100 Years

Celebrating 100 years in business, Continental breaks out the birthday cake on the show floor at the SAE World Congress.

Tom Murphy, Managing Editor

April 6, 2006

1 Min Read
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DETROIT – Continental Automotive Systems, the German auto supplier specializing in tires, brakes and electronics, celebrates 100 years in business at this week’s Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress.

At its booth on the show floor, the supplier served up a massive 6-ft.-by-3-ft. (1.8-m-by-0.9-m) cake – filled with cherries and a hint of Bavarian cream, for a welcomed afternoon snack.

Plenty of Conti birthday cake to go around at SAE World Congress.

Jeff Klei, vice president-sales and marketing for Continental Teves North America, who cut the cake, says the future looks bright for the supplier after it announced this week the acquisition of Motorola Inc.’s automotive electronics business, for $1 billion in cash.

Klei says the Motorola unit will fit nicely with Continental’s “active safety” product strategy, which combines foundation brakes and passive restraint systems with collision avoidance sensing and electronic stability control.

“Imagine, if you will, that there is a crash ahead; the road is blocked; or there is an icy patch or other obstruction in traffic, and the car ahead of you is able to see it and send a message back to the car that is following to slow down,” Klei says.

“This is where the innovation potential of integrating telematics with active and passive safety holds great promise.”

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About the Author

Tom Murphy

Managing Editor, Informa/WardsAuto

Tom Murphy test drives cars throughout the year and focuses on powertrain and interior technology. He leads selection of the Wards 10 Best Engines, Wards 10 Best Interiors and Wards 10 Best UX competitions. Tom grills year-round, never leaves home without a guitar pick and aspires to own a Jaguar E-Type someday.

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