Continental develops safe, efficient and convenient mobility and material solutions for the future.
As a leading tire manufacturer and industry specialist, Continental develops and produces safe, efficient and convenient mobility and material solutions for automotive manufacturers as well as industrial and end customers worldwide. They range from the production of energy-efficient tires using renewable and recycled materials, to products for the vehicle interiors of the future and cutting-edge technologies along new value chains, such as high-pressure hoses for carbon capture and storage. Research and development expenses for continuing operations totaled €579 million in the reporting year (PY: €552 million), of which €359 million (PY: €349 million) was attributable to the Tires group sector and €220 million (PY: €203 million) to the ContiTech group sector.
Continental develops tires with a high share of renewable and recycled materials and is committed to safety, performance and efficiency
Continental was named “Tire Manufacturer of the Year” at the Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence held at the beginning of March 2025. The jury praised its efforts to increase the share of renewable and recycled materials in tire production and implement high energy efficiency standards, noting that it has obtained international sustainability certifications for several plants. The Tires group sector is increasingly prioritizing the use of renewable and recycled production materials. Their share of purchased production materials for tires was 28.1% in 2025 and is expected to rise to at least 40% by 2030 (see the sustainability report, page 162). To achieve this, Continental uses substances such as synthetic rubber made from used cooking oil, silica derived from rice husk ash and polyester yarn extracted from recycled PET bottles, which are sourced exclusively from regions where there are no closed bottle recycling loops. Further information on this sustainability target can be found in the sustainability report in the Resource Use and Circular Economy (ESRS E5) section.
Increasing mileage and reducing abrasion
Continental is pushing forward with efforts to reduce tire wear by using innovative technologies, carrying out cutting-edge research and actively participating in various industry initiatives. According to a recent ADAC analysis of 160 products tested since 2023, Continental tires have consistently ranked among the lowest-wear products compared with the average competitor tire – clear evidence of the effectiveness of Continental’s technologies and measures. In an internal series of tests, the EcoContact 6 tire line delivered about 30 percent less wear per kilometer compared with its predecessor. Under the conditions tested, it also delivered better mileage. These properties can help reduce tire wear and the associated operating costs, without sacrificing safety or performance. Further information on tire wear can be found in the sustainability report in the Emissions and Substances (ESRS E2) section.
ISCC PLUS certification for Continental tire plants
All Continental tire plants in Europe that manufacture new tires have earned the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification PLUS (ISCC PLUS). This globally recognized certification confirms Continental’s compliance with specific documentation requirements regarding the use of renewable and recycled raw materials. It also confirms the transparent traceability of the raw materials used in the production process. Certification has also been obtained by the Hefei plant in China (Asia-Pacific region) and the Mount Vernon plant in Illinois, USA (Americas region).
Conti Urban HA 5 NXT bus tire for modern urban mobility
Continental is bringing the innovation of the UltraContact NXT passenger-car tire, comprising up to 65% renewable, recycled and mass-balance-certified materials, to the commercial vehicle segment. The launch of the Conti Urban HA 5 NXT marks a new era in modern urban mobility. Notably, the bus tire contains up to 60% renewable, recycled and mass-balance-certified materials. An internal comparison shows that the tire’s rolling resistance has been reduced by 25% compared with its predecessor, which can lead to more efficient operation of electric buses and potentially increase range.
Strong market position for ultra-high-performance tires
Continental is continually expanding its strong position in the global market for ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires. UHP tires are technologically sophisticated, available in sizes from 18 inches and designed for safe and dynamic driving at high speeds. Between 2020 and 2025, Continental increased the sales volume of its UHP tires in the passenger car and light truck segment by an average of around 9% per year. Over the same period, the share of sales of UHP tires for all Continental brands rose by almost 13% annually. In 2025, UHP tires accounted for around 62% of sales for the core Continental brand, up from around 49% five years ago.
Outstanding performance: top marks for passenger-car tires in independent comparison tests
Continental’s summer, winter and all-season tires once again performed exceptionally well in independent comparison tests in 2025. This was supported by an internal analysis in early February 2026. In four out of five international tire tests, Continental tires secured a spot in the top three (65 out of 77). This made 2025 Continental’s most successful test season in the past five years. Continental emerged victorious in almost every other tire test in the EMEA region (32 out of 66).
The SportContact 7, for example, topped the rankings in eight out of 11 global summer-tire tests. The associations ADAC (Germany), ÖAMTC (Austria) and TCS (Switzerland) each awarded it top marks. In this year’s ranking of the best sustainable, fuel-efficient summer tires, the UltraContact NXT was also rated “outstanding” by auto motor und sport. The PremiumContact 7 likewise scored highly in the current season, with the British magazines WhatCar? and Tyre Reviews each declaring it the winner of their summer tire tests. The WinterContact TS 870 P and AllSeasonContact 2 also earned top marks in independent tests.
Launch of hydrogen hose production
The ContiTech group sector launched a new production line for hydrogen hoses at its location in Korbach in 2025. This will enable ContiTech to offer safe and efficient solutions along the entire hydrogen value chain, ranging from the production and transportation of hydrogen through to its distribution and use in fuel cells and the refueling of cars, trucks, ships and aircraft.
Future technology: high-pressure hose for carbon capture and storage
ContiTech is involved in one of the first European carbon capture and storage projects in the North Sea, supplying an approximately 430-meter high-pressure hose for the injection and storage of liquid CO2 in deep geological formations. The high-pressure hose meets particularly high material requirements, making it ideally suited to extreme offshore conditions. It can also withstand a high internal pressure of 200 bar.
Premium cooling hoses for data centers
The ContiTech group sector also introduced new premium cooling hoses for data centers, which ensure stable server temperatures, reduce energy consumption and lower the risk of malfunction. The hoses are extremely heat-resistant and meet strict fire safety standards. They are designed for modern cooling methods, such as direct-to-chip single-phase cooling, and can thus help to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions in data centers.
Reduced carbon footprint of PVC-based products
ContiTech also continues to expand the use of products with reduced environmental impacts in its portfolio. The group sector now procures the crucial raw material PVC granulate predominantly from sources with an improved carbon footprint. In 2025, ContiTech switched over to NEOVYN PVC from supplier INEOS Inovyn.
The new PVC formulation is already used as standard in a range of Continental products worldwide – from functional and design-oriented surface solutions for vehicles, ships and buildings to food hoses, conveyor belts for mining and fasteners and seals for the chemical and construction industries.
New recycling technology to recover raw materials from waste rubber
The ContiTech group sector has invested in new pyrolysis technology that enables recycling of complex rubber compounds on an industrial scale, in turn reducing the need for fossil raw materials. For this purpose, ContiTech holds intellectual property rights for a thermal purification process and has commissioned a newly developed pilot facility for the production of purified pyrolysis oil.
The technology is based on a thermal process in which waste rubber is broken down into its basic chemical components. Among other things, this produces a high-quality oil that is comparable in quality to fossil crude oil and can serve as a basis for new rubber and plastic products in the future. The new purification facility uses a special method to process this oil for industrial use.
