Continental AG, commonly known simply as Continental, is a German technology and tire company headquartered in Hanover, Germany. Founded on 8 October 1871 as the Continental-Caoutchouc- und Gutta-Percha Compagnie, it began as a rubber manufacturer and gradually developed into one of the world’s best-known tire brands and mobility-technology companies. 1

Today, Continental is undergoing a major strategic transformation. Following the 2025 spin-off of its former Automotive business into Aumovio, Continental’s remaining businesses are centered on Tires and ContiTech, with the company planning to sell ContiTech and ultimately focus primarily on tires. 2

Continental describes itself as one of the world’s leading technology companies and a key supplier to the mobility industry.

Foundation: 1871

Continental was established in Hanover on 8 October 1871 by nine Hanover-based industrialists and bankers. Its original name was Continental-Caoutchouc- und Gutta-Percha Compagnie.

The company initially manufactured products made from soft rubber, rubberized fabrics and solid rubber tires for bicycles and carriages. Its product range was surprisingly diverse: Continental says that shortly after its foundation it produced more than 60,000 different items, including rubber products and materials for aircraft, airships and hot-air balloons. 1

The horse logo

The famous rampant horse became associated with Continental early in its history. It first appeared on Continental products in 1875 and was formally adopted as the company’s trademark in 1882.

The horse was derived from the coat of arms of Hanover and eventually became one of the most recognizable symbols in the tire industry. 1

Continental’s transformation from a general rubber manufacturer into a major tire company began during the bicycle and automobile eras.

Important early milestones

• 1892: Continental became the first German company to manufacture pneumatic bicycle tires.
• 1898: Automobile pneumatic tires without tread patterns entered production.
• 1901: A Mercedes automobile equipped with Continental pneumatic tires won the Nice–Salon–Nice race.
• 1904: Continental developed one of the world’s early automobile tires with a tread pattern.
• 1908: Continental invented a detachable rim intended to make tire changes easier.
• 1921: Continental introduced cord tires in Germany.
• 1926: Carbon black became an important reinforcing material in Continental tire production.
• 1928: Continental manufactured a pneumatic agricultural tire. 1

These developments helped establish Continental as a specialist in tire engineering rather than merely a general rubber-products manufacturer.

Continental’s early history was not limited to automobiles.

The company produced rubberized fabrics and materials for aviation and airships. In 1900, the first German airship, LZ 1, used Continental balloon material for its gas bags. In 1909, aircraft associated with aviator Louis Blériot used Continental Aeroplan material. 1

This illustrates an important characteristic of Continental’s early business: it was fundamentally a materials and rubber technology company, with tires becoming increasingly important over time.

Continental continued to expand its tire technology throughout the first half of the 20th century.

Among its important developments were:

• Anti-skid tires
• Cord tires
• Winter tires
• Agricultural tires
• Tubeless tires
• Radial tires

In 1955, Continental became the first German company to manufacture tubeless passenger-car tires. In 1960, it began mass production of radial tires, using the designation “R” that subsequently became standard throughout the tire industry. 3

Continental also developed a strong reputation in motorsport. During the early 1950s, Continental tires were used by racing drivers including Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss and Karl Kling. 3

Continental grew substantially through acquisitions and international expansion.

Some important milestones include:

1979 — Uniroyal European tire operations

Continental acquired the European tire operations of Uniroyal, strengthening its position in the European tire market.

1985 — Semperit

Continental acquired the tire operations of Austrian company Semperit.

1987 — General Tire

Continental acquired the North American tire manufacturer General Tire, significantly expanding its presence in North America. The North American operation later became known as Continental Tire North America. 1

ContiTech

Continental also increasingly developed its industrial rubber operations under the ContiTech umbrella. This allowed the group to participate in markets far beyond conventional tires, including conveyor belts, hoses, air springs, drive belts and other rubber-and-materials applications. 2

During the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Continental became much more than a tire manufacturer.

It expanded deeply into the automotive supply industry, producing technologies such as:

• Braking systems
• Electronic control systems
• Sensors
• Vehicle electronics
• Automotive software
• Driver-assistance technologies
• Instrument clusters
• Powertrain technologies
• Interior systems
• Connectivity technologies

This transformed Continental into a major Tier-1 automotive supplier—a company that supplies components and systems directly to vehicle manufacturers.

Consequently, the word “Continental” came to represent two somewhat different things:

1. Continental the consumer tire brand
2. Continental AG the large automotive and industrial technology group

That distinction is particularly important when discussing the company’s modern history.

For ordinary consumers, Continental is primarily recognized as a premium tire brand.

Continental produces tires for:

• Passenger cars
• SUVs
• Vans
• Trucks
• Buses
• Motorcycles
• Bicycles
• Agricultural vehicles
• Specialty applications

Its tire business also includes digital tire-monitoring and tire-management technologies for commercial fleets. 2

Continental positions its tires around characteristics such as:

Safety · braking performance · handling · efficiency · durability · comfort · sustainability

The company competes in the premium segment against brands such as Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear and Pirelli.

Continental has historically emphasized engineering and testing as major parts of its brand identity.

The company has invested heavily in tire-development facilities and testing infrastructure. Its engineers work on tire compounds, tread patterns, carcass construction, braking performance, rolling resistance and wet/dry handling.

Continental’s history is particularly notable for its involvement in:

• Winter-tire development
• High-performance tires
• Wet braking
• Low rolling resistance
• Run-flat technologies
• Tire sensors
• Sustainable tire materials

3

Motorsport has played an important role in Continental’s technical image.

Historically, Continental tires were associated with major European racing events and manufacturers. Motorsport gave the company an environment in which to develop and demonstrate technologies involving:

• High-speed stability
• Braking
• Cornering
• Tire durability
• Heat management
• High-performance compounds

The relationship between motorsport and Continental’s consumer products has helped reinforce its image as an engineering-focused premium tire manufacturer.

Continental’s current corporate structure is undergoing substantial change.

The Automotive and Contract Manufacturing businesses were separated from Continental in 2025, with the Automotive business becoming Aumovio. The separation was completed on 17 September 2025. 2

As of 2026, Continental’s remaining group consists principally of:

Tires

The Tires sector is Continental’s core business and includes tires for passenger cars, trucks, buses, two-wheelers and specialty applications.

Since January 2026, its regional organization has been centered on:

• Americas
• APAC
• EMEA

The Tires business accounted for about 70% of Continental’s consolidated sales in 2025 and generated approximately €13.8 billion in sales that year. 2

ContiTech

ContiTech develops rubber, metal and textile-based solutions for industrial applications.

Its products include:

• Hoses
• Conveyor belts
• Air springs
• Drive belts
• Surface materials
• Other industrial rubber products

Its customers and markets include energy, mining, agriculture, construction and other industrial sectors. 2

One of the biggest developments in Continental’s recent history is its decision to refocus on tires.

Continental’s 2025 Annual Report describes the company as undergoing a transformation toward becoming a pure-play tire manufacturer.

The strategy involves:

Automotive → spun off as Aumovio

ContiTech → planned separation/sale

Tires → future core Continental business

The sale of ContiTech’s Original Equipment Solutions (OESL) business was completed on 2 February 2026. Continental stated that it intended to sell the remaining ContiTech group sector during 2026. 2

In other words, the Continental of the future is expected to look considerably different from the diversified automotive conglomerate of the 2010s and early 2020s.

Continental has developed from a Hanover-based German manufacturer into a global company.

According to its 2025 Annual Report, the Continental Group had approximately:

• 92,653 employees
• 336 locations
• Presence in 54 countries and markets
• 297 companies within the group
• About 807 company-owned tire outlets
• Approximately 6,000 franchises and operations with a Continental brand presence 2

The company’s tire operations are particularly international, with production and sales networks spanning the major automotive markets of Europe, North America and Asia.

For fiscal year 2025, Continental reported group sales of approximately €19.7 billion, down 2.0% year over year. 2

The Tires business generated approximately €13.8 billion of that amount. 2

For Tires, the 2025 sales mix was approximately:

• 76% replacement tires
• 24% original-equipment tires supplied to vehicle manufacturers. 2

This distinction is important. Continental doesn’t only sell tires to consumers through tire shops; it also supplies tires directly to automobile manufacturers for installation on new vehicles.

Continental operates in two major tire markets.

Original Equipment (OE)

These are tires supplied to automakers and installed on new vehicles.

For example, an automaker may select a particular Continental tire specification as the factory tire for one of its vehicle models.

OE tires are developed in close cooperation with vehicle manufacturers and are often specifically tuned for the characteristics of a particular vehicle.

Replacement

These are tires purchased after the vehicle is already on the road.

This includes consumers replacing worn tires as well as fleet operators replacing commercial-vehicle tires.

The replacement market is particularly important to Continental: in 2025, it represented roughly 76% of Tires sales. 3

Sustainability has become an important part of Continental’s modern strategy.

The company has researched:

• Renewable materials
• Recycled materials
• Lower rolling resistance
• Sustainable natural rubber
• Alternative sources of rubber
• Energy-efficient manufacturing
• Tire lifecycle management

The Taraxagum project is one of the most recognizable examples. 3

The company’s Conti GreenConcept, introduced in 2021, represents another expression of its efforts toward more sustainable tire technology. 3

Continental’s brand identity is strongly associated with the horse symbol.

The rampant horse communicates several qualities that Continental has traditionally wanted consumers to associate with its products:

• Strength
• Speed
• Agility
• Reliability
• Endurance
• German engineering

The horse is particularly valuable because it connects Continental’s modern tire business with its 19th-century Hanoverian origins. 3

Continental is generally positioned as a premium tire manufacturer.

Its reputation is particularly strong in areas such as:

Wet braking

Continental has invested heavily in compound and tread development intended to provide strong grip on wet roads.

Handling

Its performance-oriented passenger tires are designed to provide responsive steering and cornering characteristics.

German engineering

The company’s long history and German engineering heritage are central elements of its marketing identity.

Technology

Continental emphasizes research, testing, materials science and tire-related digital technologies.

OEM relationships

Its long-standing relationships with automobile manufacturers give it significant experience designing tires around specific vehicle requirements.

Continental operates in a highly competitive global tire industry.

Its principal international competitors include:

• Michelin — France
• Bridgestone — Japan
• Goodyear — United States
• Pirelli — Italy
• Yokohama — Japan
• Hankook — South Korea
• Sumitomo Rubber Industries — Japan

The competitive landscape varies by region and tire category, with different companies particularly strong in passenger, commercial, specialty or performance tires.

Continental has produced numerous tire families over the years. Modern passenger-car ranges include names such as:

• PremiumContact — touring-oriented passenger tires
• SportContact — performance-oriented tires
• EcoContact — efficiency-focused tires
• AllSeasonContact — all-season applications
• WinterContact — winter tires

The exact range varies by market, vehicle type and model year.

Continental’s historical significance goes beyond selling tires.

The company has contributed to the evolution of mobility in several stages:

Horse-drawn transport → bicycle tires → automobile tires → high-performance tires → electronic automotive systems → connected mobility → advanced tire technology

Its history therefore mirrors the broader transformation of transportation over more than 150 years.

The company was founded before the modern automobile industry existed, yet it eventually became one of the major suppliers supporting that industry. 1

The historical milestones above are based primarily on Continental’s own corporate history. 1

If you encounter the name Continental today, there are two levels to understand it:

Continental is fundamentally a historic German engineering company whose most famous consumer product is tires.

Historically, however, it became much broader than tires, building a huge automotive-supplier and industrial-technology business.

After the separation of its Automotive business into Aumovio and the planned separation of ContiTech, Continental is moving back toward its historical core: tires. 2

That makes Continental an unusual company: a 19th-century rubber manufacturer that helped shape the automobile era and is now repositioning itself as a highly specialized global tire company for the next generation of mobility.

1. History – Continental AG
2. Structure of the Continental Group – Continental Group – 2025 Annual Report
3. The history of Continental Tyres | Continental tyres