Leading global technology company Continental has broken ground at the site of its new tyre plant near Clinton, Mississippi in the US, which is part of the company’s growth strategy for Continental Tire, known as Vision 2025.
“This is the first new plant, globally, for the truck tyre business in more than ten years. We are convinced that the state of Mississippi provides the best options for Continental to grow our tyre business,”said Nikolai Setzer, member of Continental’s Executive Board and head of Continental’s global tyre business worldwide.
The new manufacturing facility will be located at a greenfield site in Hinds County off of Interstate 20, two miles from Clinton and 20 miles from Jackson.
Continental expects to begin physical construction of the plant in 2018. The site is nearly 1,000 acres and is, by size and location, well-suited for setting up a gradually growing tyre plant. The plant is expected to be completed and start production of commercial vehicle tyres by the end of 2019.
“The groundbreaking of Continental’s new tyre manufacturing plant in Central Mississippi marks a significant milestone in the development of the company’s newest state-of-the-art facility,” Governor Bryant said.
Continental has committed for a long-term investment totalling approximately US$1.4 billion and employing 2,500 people when the plant reaches full capacity in the next decade.
“This plant is a significant step in addressing our commitment to grow our commercial vehicle tyre business in North America,” said Paul Williams, Executive Vice President, commercial vehicle tire, the Americas.
Over the last five years, Continental’s business growth in commercial vehicle tyres has consistently exceeded the market. The company continues to see customer demand for both its new truck and bus tyres as well as retreads which are growing beyond the company’s existing capacity.
Excluding the planned investment in Mississippi, Continental has already invested nearly US$2.5 billion over the last decade for manufacturing, technology, facilities and product development to further grow its tyre business in the Americas. Part of this investment has been the expansion of Continental’s tyre plant in Mt. Vernon, Illinois and the new Sumter, South Carolina facility.
An international automotive supplier, tyre manufacturer, and industrial partner, Continental provides sustainable, safe, comfortable, individual, and affordable transportation solutions.
In 2015, the corporation generated sales of EUR39.2 billion with its five divisions, Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tires, and ContiTech. Continental currently employs approximately 215,000 people in 55 countries.
The company’s tyre division currently has 24 production and development locations worldwide. As one of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers with more than 47,000 employees, the Tire Division achieved sales of EUR9.8 billion in 2014.
Continental Commercial Vehicle Tires is one of the largest manufacturers of truck, bus and commercial specialty tyres worldwide. The business unit is continuously developing from a pure tyre manufacturer to a solution provider, offering a broad range of products, services and tyre-related solutions.
State and local government officials join Continental leaders in Clinton, Mississippi for a groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s new truck tyre plant. Those who were present included Representative Deborah Dixon; Speaker Philip Gunn; Lt. Governor Tate Reeves; Continental Executive Board Member Nikolai Setzer; Governor Phil Bryant; Congressman Bennie Thompson; President Hinds County Board Darrel Mc Quirter; Executive Director, MDA Glenn McCullough, Jr.; and Continental Executive Vice President Paul Williams.