Technology company Continental is committed to creating value in the Indian market by innovating high-tech mobility solutions with a renewed commitment to localisation. With its "in the market, for the market" strategy, the company is focused on a continued expansion of electronics manufacturing, scaling up software development capabilities, and finally, robust integration of software and electronics for a faster market introduction of cutting-edge solutions. With an evolving vehicle system architecture, the company is poised to spearhead the Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) vision in India to develop state-of-the-art vehicle system functions powered by High Performance Computer (HPC).
Prashanth Doreswamy, President and CEO, Continental India, added, "Continental India is driven by our commitment towards R&D as well as advanced technological capabilities with a dedicated focus on localisation—thus bridging India with the world. Our clear roadmap emphasises growth and value creation by leveraging technology to secure a strategic advantage in the market. By expanding our technological footprint in India, Continental aims to meet global demands in mobility."
The Bangalore Plant which is Continental's largest electronics plant in India and Technical Centre India (TCI) will have a huge role to play in realising the new growth strategy. Some of the recent developments include consistent investments to ramp up localisation of safety and connected car technologies at the Bangalore Plant. While TCI mobilised investment of close to Rs 1,000 crore which included the inauguration of its new centre in 2022, it has grown remarkably both in terms of people and software systems competencies.
Continental's Gurgaon Plant is also striding towards localisation of advanced electronic brake systems and brake-by-wire solutions.
Software Defined Vehicles
In significant progress toward the future of automotive innovation, Continental has reaffirmed its commitment to pioneering Software Defined Vehicles (SDV) technology.
Continental has focused on multiple collaborations (Continental's cloud-based development environment - CAEdge) to accelerate the development and validation of software features and applications for the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV). The company, with its Plug and Play concept, has also introduced a modular and highly scalable solution for the integration of high-performance computers (HPC) in vehicle architectures.
R&D Efficiency
TCI combines the rapidly growing engineering competencies and teams in India and caters to Automotive Research and Development (R&D) requirements for Indian and global markets. TCI houses hi-tech software, hardware, and vehicle test facilities for R&D and a plethora of training centres, with each floor equipped with multiple collaboration areas. With a strong workforce, TCI is one of Continental's largest and key R&D locations globally, catering to both global and local markets.
Sustainability Focus
Premiered globally last year, what is the most sustainable tire to date, the UltraContact NXT tire was showcased for the first time in India. With up to 65 per cent renewable, recycled, and mass balance certified materials, the new tire combines a high share of sustainable materials with maximum safety and performance. At the same time, all dimensions carry the highest possible rating in rolling resistance, wet braking, and exterior noise.
Renewable materials account for up to 32 per cent of the UltraContact NXT. This includes resins based on residual materials from the paper and wood industries and silicate from the ash of rice husks. Rice husks are an agricultural waste product that may be processed into silica through a new, less energy-consuming process. As in every tire, natural rubber is a key material of the UltraContact NXT. It remains indispensable as it ensures the highest tire performance properties because of its elevated level of strength and durability.
