German automotive supplier Continental AG’s ContiTech arm will be focusing on its industrial segment in India, noted Chief Executive Officer of ContiTech Groupe, Phillip Nelles, during a visit to Kolkata.

Speaking to Motoring Trends exclusively, Nelles said, “ContiTech is doubling down on industrial applications, seizing opportunities amid India's multi-billion-dollar infrastructure and energy investments. With sweeping transformations underway, the company aims to cement its position as a leader in material-driven solutions. Our strategy is to focus on industrial sectors such as commercial vehicles, railways, construction and construction machinery, where we can deliver the highest impact.”

Picking up the sentiment, Hannes Friederichsen, Head of BA Industrial Solutions APAC, Continental AG, said, “We specialises in rubber, thermoplastic materials and rubber-metal bonded components, ensuring system-critical reliability for industrial clients. If a conveyor belt fails, it’s not just an inconvenience – it’s a system-critical disruption. That’s where we add real value.” 

The parent company recently announced plans to spin off its automotive division and Contitech’s OESL. While industrial applications remain the core focus, the company acknowledges that the automotive sector operates on a different business model, requiring a distinct strategic approach.

In focus

ContiTech's core industries in India include mining, ports, energy, cement, highway vehicles, heavy trucks and construction machinery. Additionally, the company has a plant in Pune for its surface solutions vertical, producing foils and surfaces for vehicle interiors and living environments. Having already established a strong presence in Europe and the Americas, the company is now investing in APAC, with India playing a central role in its regional strategy. 

The company operates a conveyor belt plant in Kalyani and another facility in Sonipat for power transmission belts and air springs. While specific investment figures were not disclosed, ContiTech plans to expand operations in both Sonipat and Kalyani, potentially diversifying the product portfolio in these locations.

“We’ve been laying the groundwork for major investments and are now scaling up with an expanded product portfolio and localised operations. In the commercial vehicle segment, we are focusing on air springs for trucks, trailers and buses, driven by increasing demand for comfort and tyre wear reduction. Additionally, we are exploring rubber-metal bonding systems for heavy-duty applications. The Pune facility remains a key part of this growth strategy, supporting increasing production volumes,” said Friederichsen.

The company is also eyeing opportunities in the motorcycle segment, particularly in seat coverings. As it expands, it plans to bring advanced technologies from its European and US operations into India, focusing on design, functionality and sustainability. 

“Sustainability is a growing priority, and we have the expertise to integrate recycled materials into our products. We’re also enhancing functionality with features like embedded buttons and translucent surfaces for interactive displays while ensuring that vehicle interiors reflect modern design trends,” noted Nelles.  

The company’s future innovations span beyond the cockpit, extending to seating, interior coverings and mid-arm components.

Another area of expansion is predictive maintenance services, aimed at identifying early warning signs for component replacement or repair. This initiative is expected to significantly reduce downtime and operational costs for industrial customers.

Additionally, ContiTech is actively involved in air springs for high-speed trains and metros. With India’s rapid rail infrastructure development, ContiTech is transferring its expertise to support high-speed and metro train projects.

Smart surface solutions

ContiTech is adapting its smart surface solutions portfolio for the Indian market. Commenting on the same, Friederichsen said, “Leveraging our material expertise, advanced design capabilities and expertise in living solutions, we're empowering our customers to design the car interior of the future. This includes the development of functional surfaces that bring the comfort and aesthetics of home interiors to future car interiors. Moreover, we're committed to sustainability, as evident from our first carbon-neutral product, XPRESHN - Carbon Neutral. We've also developed a comprehensive sustainability toolbox for our PVC products, catering to the diverse needs of our customers. Last year, we launched our Benova Eco Protect Line, a testament to our dedication to reducing environmental footprint.”

“In the commercial vehicle segment, our easy-to-clean surfaces, equipped with the staynu technology, are designed to enhance the well-being of truck drivers. By providing attractive cabin solutions, we are contributing to a better driving experience. In the Asia-Pacific region, we are observing a strong preference for translucent materials and super soft materials. We're well positioned to cater to these requirements, with a broad range of products that are generating significant interest among our customers,” he added. 

Alluding to the significance of his visit to Kolkata, he noted, “We have been in the Indian market for many years and we are constantly scanning the market to identify opportunities to grow. Kalyani plant remains in focus for us to expand Indian operations, and as we follow the principle of ‘in the market, for the market’, we are evaluating opportunities of extending our local product portfolio too.”

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Aumovio SE, formerly the Automotive group sector of Continental, has successfully spun off and is now trading as an independent company on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

The company, a global provider of hardware and software solutions for vehicles, opened trading at an initial share price of EUR 35.00, giving it a market capitalisation of EUR 3.5 billion.

Philipp von Hirschheydt, CEO, Aumovio, said, “Today’s listing marks the start of a new era in our history. We not only start the initial trading of our shares, but also the launch of Aumovio as a new and independent company. We are committed to play a key role in shaping the future of mobility as a leader for automotive technology and electronics. In doing so, we are combining our tradition and unique automotive expertise with a clear focus on shaping a promising future. I’d like to thank our entire team for their outstanding commitment over the past months. Today’s IPO will motivate us to consistently drive forward our strategy – for our shareholders, customers and employees.”

Aumovio starts its journey with a strong financial position, reporting no financial debt and having EUR 1.5 billion in cash funds as of 30 June 2025.

With over 86,000 employees, Aumovio is confident in its ability to deliver value-driven growth. The company has already shown improved profitability, with an adjusted EBIT margin of 2.7 percent in the first half of 2025. Looking ahead, Aumovio plans to increase its long-term sales to more than EUR 24 billion, up from EUR 19.6 billion in 2024. The company is also targeting a long-term adjusted EBIT margin of 6 percent to 8 percent.

The new shares are traded under the ticker symbol AMV0 on the Regulated Market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. At launch, one Aumovio share was allocated for every two Continental shares held by Continental shareholders. The IHO-Group, a strategic investment arm of the Schaeffler Group, holds approximately 46 percent of the total shares.

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Marelli, a global automotive technology supplier, has been recognised for its sustainable efforts with a 2025 Enlighten Award in the 'Sustainable Process' category. The award, presented on 16th September in Detroit, Michigan, honours the company’s Adhesive Wastewater Recovery Solution.

This new process, which was developed in Marelli's Kyushu, Japan plant and launched in late 2024, significantly improves water efficiency. It works by treating wastewater – classified as industrial waste – generated from cleaning machinery used in the manufacturing of vehicle interiors. The process separates, condenses and solidifies the adhesive residue, allowing the remaining water to be reused in other manufacturing operations.

This innovative solution recovers approximately 85 percent of the wastewater, eliminating the need for additional disposal steps and cutting water usage at the Kyushu plant by an estimated 8,160 kilograms per year.

The Enlighten Award, presented by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) and Altair, celebrates advancements that reduce carbon footprint, mitigate water and energy consumption and promote material reuse.

Tsukasa Fujii, President of Marelli’s Interiors business, said, “We’re honoured to win the Altair Enlighten Award for our Adhesive Wastewater Recovery Solution. This innovation embodies the Marelli culture of aiming to use resources efficiently, drawing also from Japanese know-how, which in particular developed this solution. This was also made possible by the strong leadership of our factory managers, based on our ‘Plant First’ approach. We will continue to partner with automotive OEMs to contribute to a sustainable society, and we believe this technology will set new industry standards.”

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Iochpe-Maxion, a world leader in automotive wheels production and a leading producer of automotive structural components in the Americas, has received official validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its net-zero emissions strategy. This approval confirms that the company’s climate goals are consistent with the ambition to limit global warming to 1.5°C and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.

The SBTi has classified both the company’s near-term and long-term targets for Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions as aligned with 1.5°C mitigation pathways. Iochpe-Maxion has committed to reducing its absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 63.2 percent by 2030, using 2019 as a base year. Over the same period, it will also cut its absolute Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services by 25 percent, using a 2024 baseline.

By 2040, the company aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its entire value chain. This long-term objective involves a 90 percent reduction in both Scope 1 and 2 emissions from the 2019 baseline, and a 90 percent cut in Scope 3 emissions from the 2024 baseline.

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The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), the apex body representing the Indian auto component industry, has appointed Vikrampati Singhania, Managing Director, JK Fenner (India), as President, ACMA for the 2025–26 term.

He succeeds Shradha Suri Marwah, who had been leading ACMA for the president. In addition, Sriram Viji, Managing Director, Brakes India, is the next President Designate.

Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA, said, “The appointment of Vikrampati Singhania as President and Sriram Viji as President Designate comes at a decisive moment for our industry. The auto component sector is navigating geopolitical volatility, supply chain realignments, and accelerating electrification. Their proven leadership will be invaluable in steering ACMA’s agenda on strengthening India’s global competitiveness, securing critical raw materials, and fostering R&D and innovation. I am confident that under their stewardship, ACMA will further our industry’s vision of building a resilient, sustainable, and future-ready mobility ecosystem.”

Vikrampati Singhania, said, “It is a privilege to lead ACMA at a time when India is rapidly emerging as a trusted global partner in mobility value chains. With exports crossing record highs and EV adoption reshaping the market, our task is to strengthen resilience and competitiveness. We must deepen localization, invest in advanced technologies, and embrace sustainability as a core business imperative. Together, with the government’s continued support and our industry’s commitment, we will work towards making India not only self-reliant but also a global leader in the next generation of mobility components.”

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