• Continental employs more than 1,000 people in South Africa, producing tyres for vehicle manufacturers, replacement segment and exports around the world
• 75 years of local manufacturing
• Martin Buday, Managing Director of Continental South Africa: “This is a proud achievement for all our people that have helped us reach this important chapter” 

Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2022. Since the Continental group has found its home on South African soil in 1987, it has grown the company into a trusted, renowned, and sought-after brand, known for the premium tyres it produces. With over 1,000 employees across its manufacturing, marketing and sales operations, Continental Tyre South Africa is home to vibrant and innovative people whose passion to win ensures that it is an integral part of the mobility of the future. 

“The 75th anniversary of Continental’s South African operations is an amazing milestone for the company, and a proud achievement for all our people that have helped us reach this important chapter of our history,” says Martin Buday, Managing Director of CTSA. “Over the past several decades, the company has expanded to meet the growing demand for Continental and General Tire-branded products in both the original equipment and replacement tyre sectors, both in South Africa and export countries.

When you transport loved ones to each other, facilitate family reunions and the discovery of new and faraway places, with safety at the forefront of your mind, your work is rooted in purpose. “Our purpose has inspired Continental to dig deeper for new ideas, to attract the best minds, to create the most fertile environment for innovation, creativity and excellence to flourish. It is this that we believe will carry us forward for at least another 75 years,” Buday says.

“Our Gqeberha plant has benefitted from major investments and upgrades to introduce the latest technologies, cutting-edge production processes and the most advanced tooling, which together with the expertise of our people contributed to our 75-year success story,” highlighted Attie Higgs, Acting Plant Manager of the South African manufacturing facility.

Throughout 2022, the 75 years of tradition and innovation of the Gqeberha plant has been celebrated through various events including employee events and plant tours. “We are aiming to be an employer of choice and a good citizen of the local community, to leave a great legacy and sought-after tyre manufacturing expertise for the generations to come”, added Higgs.  

Continental in South Africa is a committed partner of the local community, enrolled in various educational projects such as Unity in Africa’s iGEMS programme, as well social projects such as the Water Leaks Project addressing the water scarcity issues facing the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. 

The company’s history started when the General Tire and Rubber Company was established by the Williams Hunt Group and General Tire USA in 1947. Almost 40 years later, in 1985, Continental AG and General Tyre SA signed an agreement to produce Continental branded tyres in South Africa. The local operation was acquired by Continental in 1998 and renamed Continental Tyre South Africa (Pty) Ltd, creating the foundation to become one of South Africa’s leading tyre manufacturers and an integral part of Continental’s global family. In 2013, CTSA became fully owned subsidiary of Continental. 

Continental Tyre is a proud member of the South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC).

• The Kariega plant has been building Polos since 1996 and Vivos since 2010
• The 2-millionth unit, a Polo, rolled off the production line on the morning of 6 December 

Kariega (Uitenhage) – Days before ending production for the year, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) celebrated another production milestone when it reached the 2-millionth unit built locally of its popular Polo and Polo Vivo models.

The 2-millionth vehicle, a left-hand-drive, Ascot Grey Polo destined for Germany, rolled off the production line on the morning of 6 December.

The Kariega plant has been building the Polo since 1996, through various generations of the vehicle, and the Polo Vivo since 2010. At the time the 2-millionth vehicle was built, the plant had manufactured 1 626 816 Polos (1 065 718 for export and 561 098 for the local market) and 373 184 Polo Vivos to date.

VWSA currently exports the Polo built in Kariega to 38 countries, building this vehicle for all right-hand-drive markets and supplementing production for left-hand-drive markets. The Kariega plant is also the sole manufacturer worldwide of the Polo GTI, and builds the popular Polo Vivo for the local market. 

“This is an excellent milestone with which to end off the year,” said Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director at VWSA. “My gratitude goes out to every employee, because we would not be able to celebrate this milestone – and many others we’ve had this year – if not for their consistent hard work and dedication. This achievement belongs to all the members of the VWSA family.”

Photo Caption Above: L – R: Mandisa Koko, Piet Hugo, Martina Biene, Orlando Kerridge, Morgan Forbes, Ashwin Harri, Helen Willemse, Carsten Berger.