German technology company Continental has announced that around 3,000 research & development (R&D) jobs worldwide are set to be impacted by end-2026. The move is part of the company’s continued optimisation drive for its global R&D network locations, which also focusses on streamlining processes that enable accelerated adaptation to customer needs.

Philipp von Hirschheydt, member of the Continental Executive Board and head of the Automotive group sector, said, “Offering forward-looking technology is critical to our business. We will continue to invest substantially in research and development for new products and systems. At the same time, we are continuously improving our competitive strengths in the interest of our sustainable market success. As a result, we will ensure our R&D team is one of the most efficient in the world market and secure attractive jobs for the long term.”

One of the factors, which seems to have influenced the move is the automotive slowdown being witnessed in several markets including Germany.

Continental stated that in response to shifting customer demand and the need for greater operational efficiency, it is implementing a series of targeted measures across its business segments, subsidiaries and global locations. The idea is to optimise capacity, enhance the effectiveness of its R&D network and improve overall processes.

In Germany, the primary impact of these measures will be felt at the Babenhausen site, where approximately 12 percent of employees are expected to be affected, and in Frankfurt, where around 5 percent of positions are involved. Additional, albeit smaller-scale, efficiency adjustments are planned for locations in Ingolstadt, Regensburg and Schwalbach.

Furthermore, company's subsidiaries, Elektrobit and Continental Engineering Services, will also undergo restructuring. Elektrobit is set to reduce 480 jobs globally, with approximately 330 of those in Germany. Similarly, Continental Engineering Services will be affected by workforce adjustments impacting 420 positions worldwide, including around 330 in Germany. As part of a broader global location strategy, the company also plans to exit its Nuremberg site.

At present, Continental’s Automotive sector employs around 92,000 people, including 31,000 in R&D as of 31 December 2024.

The German company has shared that the reduction will be done through planned measures as socially responsible as possible. A significant part of the R&D workforce optimisation efforts will be by not positions that become vacant due to natural attrition.

Image for representational purpose only.

German technology company Continental Group has revealed that its Automotive Business will now be called ‘Aumovio’. The announced was made at the Auto Shanghai Show 2025.

The new branding will combine the strong market position, heritage and technological expertise in the automotive industry with the ambition to shape the mobility of the future with innovations.

Aumovio will focus on electronic products and advanced mobility solutions for the software-defined vehicle (SDV) and safe, exciting, connected and autonomous mobility. As per a Berylls report the automotive value of solutions per vehicle in the above segments is estimated to grow by 4.7 percent annually till 2029.

Post approval from the Continental shareholders meeting, Aumovio is scheduled to list on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in September 2025.

Philipp von Hirschheydt, Member of the Executive Board of Continental and CEO of Automotive, said, "As an independent company, we gain significantly more creative power and speed. Aumovio will be characterised by a triad of technologically leading products, a consistent value creation strategy and a global synergetic network, combined with a strong local presence for our customers. Our aim is to further expand our position in the future fields and growth markets of mobility. This strategy is particularly evident in China. Among other things, we are relying on our strong local presence by producing and developing locally for the Chinese market."

Automotive supplier MAHLE has unveiled a bionic radial blower for vehicle air conditioning systems, designed to boost efficiency while significantly reducing noise. Inspired by the streamlined fins of a penguin, the innovative component is claimed to deliver 60 percent less noise and 15 percent more energy efficiency than comparable systems.

The development has been tailored for vehicles with limited installation space and is being showcased publicly for the first time at Auto Shanghai 2025, held from 23 April to 2 May at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai.

“The development of the new bionic radial blower underscores our comprehensive systems expertise in thermal management and benefits from the use of artificial intelligence,” said Jumana Al-Sibai, Member of the MAHLE Group Management Board and head of the Thermal and Fluid Systems division.

The blade design of the blower mimics the fin of a penguin – an animal renowned for its ability to glide through water with minimal resistance. This bio-inspired aerodynamic shape results in not only quieter operation but also reduced energy consumption, as the blower’s motor requires less power to circulate air.

Dr Uli Christian Blessing, Vice-President R&D Thermal and Fluid Systems, MAHLE, said, “Evolution has equipped the penguin with fins that allow it to glide through the water with minimal resistance and ultrahigh efficiency. The fin shape served as a model in the optimisation process of the impeller of our radial blower.”

This approach is not new to MAHLE, which has previously drawn on natural principles to develop a bionic cooling plate and high-performance fan for electric vehicles – both designed to enhance thermal efficiency.

A key enabler of the rapid development process was an in-house artificial intelligence tool. Engineers worked with the AI system, feeding it design parameters and performance data. In turn, the tool generated over 30 million virtual design iterations in a short time, allowing engineers to identify the optimal blade geometry and quickly move to prototyping.

Positioned in front of the evaporator, the new blower supports a more symmetrical and compact HVAC design, which frees up space – especially valuable in electric vehicles where packaging constraints are tight.

The bionic radial blower is suitable for integration across all classes of passenger cars, as well as light and heavy commercial vehicles, offering OEMs a high-performance alternative to conventional fan technologies.

Norway-headquartered automotive component supplier Kongsberg Automotive has inaugurated its new manufacturing facility in Faridabad, India.

The Norwegian company is a leading supplier of driver and motion control systems, fluid assemblies and industrial driver interface products. It primarily caters to on-highway, passenger cars, off-highway and aftermarket segments.

The company has established its presence in 17 countries globally, employs over 4,700 people in 32 locations and clocked EUR 788 million revenue in 2024.

The new facility primarily manufactures Drive Control Systems (DCS) products – steering columns, cable gear shifters, shift towers and shift-by-wire shifters, among others. Furthermore, the new facility will allow Kongsberg Automotive to expand its production capability for Flow Control Systems (FCS) products.

Robert Pigg, Executive Vice-President of Drive Control Systems, Kongsberg Automotive, said, “This relocation represents a significant step in Kongsberg Automotive’s ongoing journey toward growth and enhanced manufacturing excellence in India.”

The new facility is spread across 6,947 square metres, as compared to its previous plant in the same locality.

CK Holdings-owned Italian automotive tier 1 supplier Marelli has won three accolades at the 2025 Automotive News PACE Awards.

The company won awards for Innovation Partnership Award for Digital OLED Taillights, PACE Award for Digital OLED 2.0 Technology and PACEpilot Award for Electromechanical Suspension.

The first award jointly received by Marelli and Audi for their collaboration on the Digital OLED Taillight, featured on the 2024 Audi Q6 e-tron. The award highlights successful supplier-OEM partnerships in commercialising advanced technologies.

The second-generation Digital OLED Taillight allows drivers to personalise their vehicle with up to eight light signatures via the MMI or myAudi app. It also enhances safety through proximity indication and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, displaying warning symbols in critical situations.

Frank Huber, President, Marelli’s Lighting business, said, “This award reflects our commitment to co-creating innovations with partners like Audi.”

The second award was won jointly by Marelli and OLEDWorks for the Digital OLED 2.0 rear lights on the Audi Q6 e-tron. The technology uses 60-segment OLED panels, controlled via a high-speed CAN-FD bus, enabling dynamic light signatures and improved safety features.

The system reduces mechanical complexity, increases energy efficiency and supports advanced animations. Steve Muench, Head of Marelli Lighting North America, and David DeJoy, CEO of OLEDWorks, accepted the award.

Lastly, Marelli was recognised for its Fully Active Electromechanical Suspension, which received a PACEpilot Award for its potential to transform future mobility. The oil-free system uses four actuators to adjust suspension in real-time, improving comfort and efficiency while reducing motion sickness.

Antonio Ferrara, President, Marelli’s Ride Dynamics business, said: “This award acknowledges our commitment to advancing vehicle dynamics for electric and autonomous vehicles.”