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 Continental is not new to India. The name appeared as a joint venture partner with one of the leading tyre manufacturers nearly a decade and a half ago. Thereafter the brand Continental only kept getting more visible and prominent. Further prominence was achieved after the German supplier acquired Siemens VDO at the global level. In India, VDO had been operating for a long time and was integrated into the Continental structure even as the company acquired yet another manufacturing facility in north India, at Sonepat in Haryana to be precise. With firm commitment to India with facilities at Sonepat, Bangalore, Pune and an office at Delhi, Continental demonstrated at the 10th Auto Expo 2010 a strong system integration competence.
Showcasing products and solutions tailor-made for the Asian markets in general and the Indian market in particular, Continental displayed its advanced technologies for chassis and safety, powertrain, interior and the ContiTech range of products. An interesting exhibit was the fuel supply unit for the Tata Nano, produced at Pune, which was developed by the local engineering team in Bangalore in cooperation with their German colleagues. In a dedicated corner, Continental unveiled its brand new demo car called IDOL, packed with ideas and products, which are aimed at the emerging markets. Demonstrating strong system integration competence and commitment for local production and R&D footprint in India, Continental through IDOL highlighted its efforts towards offering solutions that enhance mobility, safety, and driving pleasure at affordable prices; all this, without overlooking the integration of environment-friendly technologies. Powered by 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged direct injection gasoline engine and 12 kW mild hybrid drivetrain, the IDOL according to the sources at Continental enables a CO2 emission reduction by 15 per cent, and a power increase by 14 per cent and torque increase by up to 36 per cent.
To enhance functionality of the vehicle, the IDOL is equipped with a new instrument cluster with outstanding features for an optimised Human-Machine Interface (HMI) via touch screen and voice recognition. This is further aided by an entertainment system with MP3, DVD video, integrated navigation and a Bluetooth interface for mobile phones. Such advanced in-car information management is aimed at minimising driver distraction as well as ensuring that the driver has all of the information he wants while still being in full control of his vehicle. Electronic Stability Control (ESC), presently the most important active safety system used in automobiles, ensures the stability and controllability of the vehicle in all driving situations.
Pointing at the IDOL, Claude d’Gamarose, the new Managing Director of Continental Automotive India, expressed that the upcoming customer demand for fuel efficient, safer, comfortable and multimedia-enabled vehicles has been driving manufacturers to make their vehicles increasingly intelligent: “At Continental we are partnering with our customers in meeting these demands.” Stating that his company aimed at making intelligent mobility affordable, he added: “Our focus is to localise the entire value chain from local R&D to local engineering, purchasing and manufacturing. Our new electronic manufacturing facility in Bangalore meets the Indian automotive industry demands and we are also constantly expanding our R&D base in our new technical centre in Bangalore.”
With ContiGuard on board, the IDOL demonstrates an integrated active and passive safety system, which represents the next level of driving safety technology. Every safety-relevant active and passive function, including the corresponding environment sensor system, is fully integrated into a comprehensive safety package. Effective accident prevention (Vision Zero), the minimisation of the consequences of accidents and the risk of injuries, new functionalities through system integration and reduced cost through the use of common components are some of the outstanding advantages of ContiGuard. The tyres of IDOL combine an outstanding safety performance, especially in stopping power, with low rolling resistance values.
Said Jay K Kunkel, President Asia and Member of the Automotive Management Board of Continental AG, “Industry experts are expecting a strong growth in the low-cost vehicle segment in the coming decade, particularly in the emerging markets of Asia.” Stating that leading automotive market research institutes estimate that from 2012 onwards nearly one out of two cars worldwide is expected to be manufactured in Asia, Kunkel added, “Much of the growth in Asian auto market is anticipated to come from India.” Interestingly, Kunkel's comments align with the opinion of many industry experts who expect India to be the 7th largest automotive market by 2016. Concluded Kunkel, “We intend to continue our investment in technology innovations and intensify our R&D localisation strategy to develop specific products for the Indian market while providing excellent support and global expertise to our local customers. We are where our customers are. Our participation in Auto Expo 2010 provides an opportunity to showcase the strengths of Continental.”
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