Continental Steps Up Engineering on Electromechanical Brakes

Frankfurt am Main, Germany, March 18, 2008 -- The Chassis & Safety Division of the international automotive supplier Continental AG will integrate its expertise in the series production of conventional brakes and electromechanical combi brakes with the new innovative approaches adopted by VDO Automotive AG which Continental recently acquired. By pooling engineering know-how, the plan is to step up development activities ranging from electromechanical brake ready for series production to a fully dry brake.

Electromechanical Brakes: Their universal electronic interface makes electromechanical brake calipers ideally suited for an integration into a global chassis control system.

Continental is convinced of the future for electromechanical brake calipers. Their universal electronic interface makes them ideally suited for an integration into a global chassis control system, both on hybrid systems with dry brakes on the rear axle only and also with fully electronic braking systems. By incorporating VDO activities, the Chassis & Safety Division intends to become the leading global supplier of dry brakes. Series introduction on rear axles with electrohydraulic combi brake is already planned.

Continental's first step will be to bring the electrohydraulic combi brake (EHC) to series production readiness. The EHC combines hydraulic front axle wheel brakes with fully-electric wheel brakes on the rear axle. The second step is then to apply dry brakes on the front axle as well. In parallel with this, Continental is putting the self-amplification of the dry brake on the front axle to close analysis. Only extensive testing will decide whether a wedge or a spindle design will satisfy the requirements for series production, cost effectiveness and safety.

"By combining the technical expertise of both teams of engineers, we can now focus on optimizing the friction brake and the front axle actuator, on perfecting a combination of mechanics and electronics so as to develop an electromechanical brake which will be a permanent market feature", said Michael Zydek, head of Systems Development at the Electronic Brake Systems Business Unit. "Cost optimization, robustness, weight and how such a brake can be applied in practice, are all matters which must be thoroughly investigated if we want to go into successful series production. We are now in an excellent position and I am convinced that we will extend our market lead in dry brakes even further."

With targeted annual sales of more than €26.4 billion for 2008, the Continental Corporation is one of the top automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for the powertrain and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers, the corporation contributes towards enhanced driving safety and protection of the global climate. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. Today, the corporation employs approximately 150,000 people at nearly 200 locations in 36 countries.

As a worldwide leading technology and systems partner to the automotive industry, the Chassis & Safety Division of Continental AG integrates extensive know-how and leading-edge quality in the fields of active and passive driving safety, safety and chassis sensorics, and chassis components. The Division achieves sales of more than € 5 billion (based on 2006 figures) with a workforce of more than 27,500 (2007). Chassis & Safety develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake and chassis control systems, sensors, driver assistance systems, air bag control systems, occupant classification systems, washer systems as well as electronic air suspension systems.

Source: VDO Automotive AG

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