AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (March 19, 2014) — Continental A.G. plans to increase its workforce by approximately 7,000 in 2014, assuming the market develops accordingly, which would expand employment to approximately 185,000.
The additional jobs would be added in markets the company has identified for growth. It did not specify how many would be in its tire businesses, where it now employs more than 42,500 worldwide.
Conti said its planned acquisition of Veyance Technologies Inc. would add another 9,000 to the projected 185,000, putting the 200,000 employee mark on the horizon.
The auto components, systems and tire maker employs approximately 178,000 in 49 countries.
“The larger workforce reflects our business success,” said Elke Strathmann, Continental executive board member responsible for human resources. She said the firm plans to increase sales by 5 percent to approximately $48.7 billion.
In 2013 Continental said it added about 1,800 jobs in China, 1,500 in North America, 1,500 in Romania and 1,400 in Germany.
It reported sales of $45.9 billion last year.
“In the last few years, we have broadened our base both product wise and geographically,” Ms. Strathmann said. “This has made talent management and cultural development all the more important.”
Continental is a global automotive supplier producing brake systems, systems and components for power trains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers.