Conti proposes German master plan for electric vehicles

ERJ staff report (DS)

Hannover, Germany -- Continental AG is calling for Germany to develop a master plan for electric vehicles, but tyres are not mentioned in the summary announcement, dated 16 December.

Continental Executive Board member Dr. Elmar Degenhart says Germany has all the skills and technologies necessary, including batteries, motors, control systems to gain global leadership in this strategic technology area.

Continental will produce the first complete electrical powertrain for a series vehicle manufactured by a European carmaker already in 2011.

According to Degenhart, Germany has no more time to waste, considering there are already 60 million electric scooters in China. The central government promotes electric powertrains massively, promising a billion euros a year for the coming ten years: “China is moving ahead and has taken the lead as a market for the mobile future.” But Degenhart considers the huge Middle Kingdom to also be a huge opportunity for Germany, since it has the knowledge so desperately needed in China - “if we join forces and act now.”

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Press release from Continental