Tyre firm Continental has celebrated the grand opening of the fourth expansion phase of its tyre plant in Hefei, China. With the extension of its solely tyre plant in the country Continental Tires will boost its annual production capacity to 18 million passenger and light truck tyres annually by 2027. Total investments into the Hefei production site stand now at close to EUR1 billion.
This expansion will create 400 additional jobs in the upcoming years. It increases amongst others the overall production capacity of technologically more complex Ultra High-Performance (UHP) tyres for the markets in the region Asia-Pacific (APAC), which are from 18 inches and above that are primarily designed for high driving dynamics.
Continental’s Hefei plant is equipped with advanced automation technology, for example used in the curing process to give tyres its final shape. This ensures a modern, digital, ergonomic, and sustainable working place. Moreover, the Hefei site meets high standards in the use of renewable energies. The installed solar panels on the roof top of the production site have a capacity of 27 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year, contributing 18% of the total electricity currently needed for tire production.
The plant has recently been awarded the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS sustainability certification. Combining a high degree of automation with sustainability brings Continental closer to fulfill its ambitions to achieve 100% climate neutrality along the entire value chain by 2050 at the latest, while at the same time offering safe and ergonomic workplaces of the future.
The tyre plant in Hefei has been manufacturing for the APAC region since its opening in 2011. With the latest plant expansion Continental Tires further strengthens its presence in the Asia-Pacific and especially on the Chinese market.
“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, Plant Manager of Continental tire plant in Hefei.