Key Takeaways

  • Continental Tires has headquarters in Hanover, Germany.
  • Continental AG, a German automotive parts company, owns Continental Tires.
  • Continental AG is a publicly traded company listed on Germany’s stock exchange.
  • Continental Tires has a complex history with the Nazi regime.
  • Continental has implemented a diversity and inclusion council within their business .

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Continental tires are some of the highest quality and highest performing tires you can purchase. But who owns continental tires?

Continental Tires is a leading global tire manufacturer with headquarters in Hanover, Germany. Continental AG, a German multinational automotive parts manufacturing company, owns Continental Tires. Continental Tires has been around since 1871.

As a mechanic with five years experience within the tire industry, I’ve been dealing with Continental tires for quite some time. I’ve also received my associate’s degree in automotive repair and am ASE certified.

Table of Contents

Continental Tire

Continental Tire is a global tire conglomerate that manufactures tires with headquarters in Hanover, Germany. The company was founded in 1871 and has developed into a major player within the tire industry.

The Continental corporation is known for its innovative technologies, high quality products, and strong commitment to sustainability.

According to records, and as of 2021, a company called Continental AG owns Continental Tires. Continental AG is a multinational automotive parts manufacturing company.

Headquartered in Hanover, Germany, Continental makes many different parts including tires, brakes, powertrain and chassis components, and safety systems.

Continental AG is a publicly traded company listed on Germany’s stock exchange. The company has a diverse ownership structure, including institutional investors, private investors, and individual shareholders.

Currently, the largest shareholder of Continental AG is the Schaeffler Group.

The Schaeffler Group is a family owned industrial group that specializes in products that need to be high precision, such as items like automotive items and items for the industrial sector.

Continental Tire Company operates as a subsidiary of the AG company. Continental has a strong presence in Europe, North America, and Asia.

Continental tire manufacturing makes Continental tires, but also makes the Uniroyal and the General Tire brand.

In recent years, Continental Tires has made significant investments in research and development. Continental has also pledged to become a sustainable manufacturing company through its development of commercial vehicle tires.

Continental History

AG has a long and storied history dating back to 1871. During this time, Continental AG was founded in Hanover, Germany. The company made soft rubber products such as rubber seals, belts, and hoses.

In 1892, through connected mobility, the company manufactured its first bicycle tire. This marked the entry into the tire industry. Over the years, Continental Group continued to expand its business by developing new technologies.

In the early 1900’s, the company was developing tires for automobiles. By the 1920’s Continental had made a reputation for themselves as a leading tire manufacturer.

During WWII, Continental focused all of its production into supporting the German war effort. After the war, the company faced significant challenges to build its business and reputation.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s, the company invested heavily into research which led to the manufacturing of tubeless and radial tires.

During this time, the company expanded into different markets by opening up different facilities and business offices all throughout the globe.

Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, Continental continued to innovate by producing products such as the low profile tire and all season tire.

The company also started branching out by purchasing companies from the automotive and aerospace sector, to diversify its reach.

In the 1990’s and 2000’s, Continental announced, through its executive board, that it would expand its global presence through the acquisition of manufacturing plants in the United States and the Czech Republic.

Continental AG also continued to do research and development and developed run flat tires and eco friendly tires.

Today, Continental AG is the parent company of Continental Tires. Continental Tires is a leading player in the tire industry, known for its high quality products and innovative technologies.

Continental Tires and The Nazis

Continental Tires has a complex history with the Nazi regime. Like many German companies at the time, they were forced to produce goods for the Nazis by the Nazi regime.

Continental Tires made products for Germany’s war effort. Some of the products they made were tires, tank tracks, and other rubber based components.

The company also used forced labor, including prisoners of war and concentration camp inmates, to work in their factories.

After the war, Continental faced significant challenges when rebuilding its brand and reputation. The company was placed under Allied control, who oversaw its operations and management.

In the years following the war, Continental AG made significant efforts to address its past dealings with the Nazi regime. In the 1990’s, the supervisory board of Continental established a research project to investigate its use of forced labor

The project resulted in a book called Continental in the Third Reich, which provided first hand accounts of Continental’s activities during WWII.

In 1999, the company became the first company to join the "Remembrance, Responsibility and Future" foundation. The purpose of this foundation was to repay forced laborers and others who suffered during the war.

Continental paid out almost $70 million dollars in compensation to the families of those who it used for forced labor. Continental is committed to addressing its past involvement with the Nazi regime. The company has implemented a number of initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion.

Continental brands have implemented a diversity and inclusion council within their business to show how dedicated they are to addressing their past issues with diversity.

Continental has also established practices within their business that prohibits discrimination and harassment.

Continental Tires

Continental tires is a major player in the global market. They offer a wide range of products for different types of vehicles from cars to SUVs. Some of the most popular tires that Continental makes today follow.

  • Continental EcoContact 6: This tire is designed for passenger cars and offers a high level of grip, low rolling resistance, and improved fuel efficiency.
  • Continental TerrainContact A/T: This tire is designed for SUVs and light trucks and offers a comfortable ride, excellent off-road performance, and long-lasting durability.
  • Continental CrossContact LX25: This tire is designed for crossover and SUVs and offers a smooth and quiet ride, excellent wet and dry traction, and long-lasting tread life.
  • Continental ProContact TX: This tire is designed for luxury sedans and sports cars and offers a high level of performance, superior handling, and a comfortable ride.
  • Continental VanContact 4Season: This tire is designed for commercial vans and offers excellent traction in all weather conditions, long-lasting durability, and a high load capacity.
  • Continental HSR2: This tire is designed for long-haul trucks and offers excellent mileage, low rolling resistance, and a high level of durability.

These are just a few examples of popular Continental Tires available in the market today. Continental tires continue to innovate and develop new tire technologies.

Who Owns Continental Tires?

About The Author

Christopher Sparks

Christopher Sparks

Christopher Sparks has been servicing vehicles since 2012. After completing the automotive studies program at Camden County College, he was awarded an Associates's Degree in Applied Science. His first job was a lube-tech at Jiffy Lube, and is currently an independent B-Technician servicing vehicles for the United States Postal Service. Christopher is ASE certified and loves rebuilding engines.

Read more about Christopher Sparks