Continental Tires opened 500th retail store in China

Continental Tires, the global leading tire maker celebrates the opening of 500th authorized retailer stores in China on December 28, 2008 within the context that China economy is suffering from an extremely cold winter. The 500th store is located at the main traffic road of Jinyang Road (E), Jiashan, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province with a land coverage area of 1150m2, as the largest Continental brand image brand in Northern Zhejiang Province. Mr. Klaus Kreipe, General Manager with Continental (China) attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for such 500th retailer store.

Thanks to Continental leadership in European OE market and the value-added business marketing strategy on China retailing market, Continental is expanding its sales & marketing network at the speed of opening one store per day since Continental entry into China market in 2007. The opening of 500th Continental authorized retail store represents the new milestone of Continental Tires development in China.

Mr. Klaus Kreipe, General Manager with Continental (China) said,” All retailers are looking for reliable ways to cope with this difficult economic period. Continental made great efforts to promote value-added business strategies since entered into China. Especially in times when many car owners postpone the purchase of new cars, Continental can offer tires of highest quality and latest technology to extend the use of cars without compromising safety and comfort. We will continue our sales & marketing network expansion in 2009, and what’s more important, we will help our retailers to discover new growth points and provide more value-added services to the customer.”

Continental Tires chose Jiashan Daben Auto Parts Co., Ltd. as the investor for this retailer store, which was the largest tire chain store in Jiaxing region with over 10-year experience in tire wholesaling and retailing as well as the absolute leading position in Jiaxing region after market. This newly opened Continental authorized retailer store is the largest store of Jiashan Daben and meanwhile another Continental authorized store invested by this company opens at the same time. The opening of such twin stores invested by Jiashan Daben justified its confidence in Continental development in China, which also means Continental Tires will become the core of Jiashan Daben’s future business growth.

Continental Tires has realized the superior accomplishments in the China market development in 2008, and the establishment of authorized retailer network guarantees the complete service and quality to China consumers.

Continental Tires also reinforced its efforts in the website construction to further improve its communication and interaction with the consumers in addition to Continental efforts in marketing network building. Continental's polished Chinese website lists the location of retailer stores and map direction about how to drive to the retailer store, which helps the consumers to get the professional services from the authorized retailer stores. For further information, please log on www.conti.cn.

About Continental Corporation

The Continental Corporation is one of the top automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of tires, brake systems, powertrain and chassis systems and components, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics 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. The corporation currently employs approximately 150,000 at nearly 200 locations in 36 countries. For further details, visit conti-online.com.

A quarter of all tires in Europe are manufactured by Continental, the market leader. When they are first manufactured, more than 30 per cent of all new European cars come out of factories fitted with Continental tires. The tire divisions are an official sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup? in South Africa. For further details, please go to www.ContiSoccerWorld.com.