New Continental Plant in Costa Rica to Produce Powertrain Control Units for the NAFTA Region from 2008

Continental is building its first production facility in Costa Rica with the aim of expanding its position in this growth market and getting closer to its customers

Frankfurt / San José, October 17, 2007 -- From the end of 2008, the international automotive industry supplier Continental plans to produce control units for engines and transmissions in Costa Rica for customers in the NAFTA region. Today the ground-breaking opening ceremony of the plant near San José took place with Henner Cnyrim, head of electronics plants Continental Division Automotive Systems, Dr. Sami Krimi, future head of the Costa Rican plant and Mayoress of Alajuela Joyce Zurcher. A reception was then held by the President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias Sánchez, and Minister of the Presidency, Rodrigo Arias Sánchez with customer representatives. The new production site represents a further step in the expansion of Continental's presence in the fast-growing NAFTA region and will cost US$ 61.5 million to build.

The new site will have production and office space covering a total of more than 16,000m² and 350 employees will manufacture control units for engines and transmission systems for passenger cars produced in the NAFTA region. By 2011 the company plans to expand the workforce to 550 and to increase the size of the plant. One factor which persuaded Continental to choose Costa Rica as the location for the new plant was the high standard of education among the local population. This ensures that the company will be able to find both skilled production staff and highly-trained process and quality engineers.

Growth plans for the NAFTA region: one million transmission control units every year

“By siting the new plant in Costa Rica we are meeting the wishes of our customers in the automotive industry for greater proximity,” said Dieter Rogge, head of Business Unit Powertrain & Chassis Continental Automotive Systems, and added: “Continental Automotive Systems is already well-positioned within the NAFTA region with development and production facilities. “And as part of the electronics operations strategy, the new plant should enable increased electronics production for the NAFTA region”, stressed Henner Cnyrim. The company has an annual production target of one million control units for the double-clutch transmission (DCT) by 2011. In 2003 Continental Automotive Systems became the first manufacturer in the world to go into series production with these control units that are integrated into the transmission housing.

The Continental Corporation is a leading automotive supplier of brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers. In 2006 the corporation realized sales of EUR14.9 billion. At present it has a worldwide workforce of around 89,000.

As a worldwide leading technology and systems partner to the automotive industry, the Automotive Systems Division of Continental AG integrates extensive know-how and uncompromising quality in the fields of active and passive driving safety, embedded telematics and hands-free communication systems, powertrain and comfort. In 2006 the Division achieved sales of approx. Euro 6 billion with a workforce of more than 30,000. Continental Automotive Systems develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake, stability and chassis control systems, electronic air suspension systems, sensors, engine management and transmission control systems, hybrid drives, cooling fan modules, body and security electronics and also is the industry leader of embedded telematics and communication systems in vehicles.

Source: Continental AG

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