Continental

Continental AG, commonly known as "Conti," is a publicly traded German company founded on 8 October 1871 in Hanover, where it remains headquartered. Originally a rubber manufacturer (Continental-Caoutchouc und Gutta-Percha Compagnie), it trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the ticker CON as a DAX component and is approximately 46% owned by the Schaeffler Group.

Historically one of the world's largest automotive suppliers and tire makers, Continental's tire division is now its core and most profitable unit, generating roughly €14 billion in revenue in 2024 with a profit margin near 13.7%. The company has undertaken a major strategic restructuring: its automotive division was spun off into an independent company (Aumovio) in 2025, and it has announced plans to sell its ContiTech rubber-and-plastics industrial division, expected to be completed by 2026.

Following these moves, Continental positions itself as a "pure-play" tire manufacturer. Group revenue was reported at roughly €19.7 billion (2025 figures cited), with about 78,000 employees, of which around 57,000 work in tire operations. Notable brands and subsidiaries include the flagship Continental tire brand, General Tire, Hoosier Racing Tire, Matador, and Phoenix AG.

Leadership includes Supervisory Board Chair Sabrina Soussan and CEO Christian Kötz (with Nikolai Setzer previously leading the tire-focus strategy). As a company in active restructuring and refocusing on tires, innovations in this space are directly relevant to its core business and competitive position.