Shanghai (ZXZC)- On June 20, leading global tire manufacturer Continental Tires announced that its first production base in China, the Hefei Plant, has officially begun production on its Phase IV expansion project.

Photo credit: Continental

The company revealed that by 2027, once full production capacity is reached, the Hefei Plant is expected to increase its annual output to 18 million tires for passenger cars and light-duty trucks, creating an additional 400 jobs.

The total investment in the Hefei production base has now reached nearly 1 billion euros. This expansion will strengthen Continental Tire’s business in the Asia-Pacific region and Chinese market, further enhancing its overall production capacity for ultra-high performance (UHP) tires.

Photo credit: Continental

Enno Tang, President and CEO of Continental China, stated: "With high-quality tire products and excellent customer service, Continental Tires has gained the trust of an increasing number of original equipment customers and end consumers in the Chinese market. Facing the major transformations in the global automotive market and the rapid development of the Chinese automotive industry, Continental remains committed to its localization strategy of 'Rooted in the Market, Serving the Market,' steadily enhancing local production and R&D capabilities, continuously driving value creation in China, and contributing to the sustainable development of the Chinese automotive industry."

Photo credit: Continental

Continental said the Hefei Plant will utilize advanced automation technologies, particularly achieving fully automated transportation in the vulcanization area. The implementation of these new technologies ensures that the Hefei Plant becomes a modern, digitalized workplace designed according to ergonomic and sustainable development standards.

Additionally, the Hefei Plant has made significant investments in innovative environmental facilities, aiming to become a high-energy-efficiency green factory. By the end of this year, the plant’s annual solar power generation will reach 27 million kWh, providing 18% of the current factory's production operation electricity needs. Recently, the Hefei Plant also obtained the ISCC PLUS certification. These initiatives will help Continental Tires get closer to its goal of achieving 100% carbon neutrality across the entire value chain by 2050 and provide a future workplace designed to meet ergonomic requirements.

Since its official commencement of production in 2011, the Hefei Plant has been dedicated to providing high-quality tire products to consumers in the Asia-Pacific region. With the plant's expansion, Continental Tires will further strengthen its brand influence in the Asia-Pacific market, particularly in China.