PLAYA MUJERES, Mexico — Consistency has been a hallmark of the Continental Tire the Americas team for more than a decade, no matter the challenge ahead.
So it goes to reason that despite the most revolutionary drivetrain change in over a century — electric vehicles (EVs) overtaking internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE) — the U.S. subsidiary of Hanover, Germany-based Continental A.G. isn't about to change.
The tires Conti produces for the OE and replacement markets — fitting both EVs and ICE vehicles — are one and the same. In other words, the product, like the team itself, is and will continue to be consistent.
That was the big message that the roughly 600 dealers, vendors, Conti personnel and guests heard during the Continental Gold Trip, held March 20-24 at the Atelier Playa Mujeres all-inclusive resort, located near Cancun. Approximately 300 dealers qualified for the event, including 36 first-timers.
The Gold Trip is being held in the spring for the first time since 2019. The pandemic canceled the 2020 event, while the 2021 and 2022 events were held later in the year, based on the pandemic aftermath.
"That's kind of exciting for us," Bill Caldwell, Conti's senior vice president of sales and marketing, said about the schedule. "There's no need for additional adjustments and planning."
And that's exactly the same message that Joe Maher, the product manager, passenger and winter tires for the Fort Mill, S.C.-based firm, told dealers repeatedly.