Continental opens new test centre in China

Global automotive supplier Continental has officially opened its test center Yancheng. In cooperation with China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC), the test center Yancheng will mainly support the testing and validation of Continental safety products and systems, such as electronic and hydraulic brake systems, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and tyres.

On July 8, Continental also hosted the Chassis & Safety China Technology Summit 2016 with the theme ‘SensePlanAct’  which saw attendees discuss chassis and safety solutions and explore its development trends within the industry.

Test Centre Yancheng to strengthen localisation

The test centre Yancheng, occupying 2,500 square metres in phase one, including offices and testing workshops, is Continental’s newest testing facility in China after the winter test centre in Heihe. It will provide the company with a more solid foundation for technical support and product development in China, strengthening Continental’s leading position as an international automotive and systems supplier in the market.

According to Frank Jourdan, Member of the Executive Board of Continental AG and President of the Chassis & Safety Division, “The opening of the test centre Yancheng reflects Continental’s long-term commitment to the Chinese market through developing local products and providing Chinese customers with cutting-edge technologies and R&D capabilities. In addition, we are very happy to cooperate with CATARC so that the new test centre will also bring the most advanced safety technologies to China. It is our goal to meet local market demands, as well as help to enhance China’s road safety consciousness and support the realisation of ‘Vision Zero’”.

Li Zanfeng, general manager of CATARC Test Proving Ground Yancheng, said: “Continental is one of our important partners, whom we have cooperated with in different areas for many years. Undoubtedly, the joint investment on the test centre Yancheng is another milestone of the strategic cooperation which will enhance the cooperation in the area of automotive safety.”

Focus on China’s road safety issues

The Continental Chassis & Safety Technology Summit 2016 held in Yancheng on the theme of ‘SensePlanAct’ underlined the supplier’s attention to China’s road-safety issues.

The Chassis & Safety division, one of Continental’s five divisions, has been driving Vision Zero – a future without road accidents. Integrating various active and passive safety systems and improving the safety and dynamics of vehicles, the division is committed to creating safer and more comfortable driving experiences for its customers.

To realise this goal, ‘SensePlanAct’ defines the importance that driving safety products have played in driving and also guides the R&D Process.

The summit focused on technology solutions along the driving chain of effects that form the foundation for automated driving. Continental has started automated driving initiatives in the U.S., Germany and Japan, and the plan for China is on the way this August.

Workshops as well as test driving opportunities help improve participants’ understanding of development of these technologies and communicate their insights of the industry. Key product topics of the workshop were the leading technologies under the driving chain such as ADAS (Sense), the Safety Domain Control Unit (Plan) and the integrated brake system MK C1 (Act).