Nov 22, 2013

  • Tire manufacturer wins Excellent Development Partner Award for Tesla Model S
  • Continental supplies 21-inch ContiSportContact 5 tires with low rolling resistance, high grip and safe handling

Hanover, November 22, 2013. Continental has been named an Excellent Development Partner by Tesla Motors, the California-based electric vehicle manufacturer. The accolade from Teslawas awarded as a result of Continental's collaboration and development of specialty tires for Tesla's Model S electric sedan. For Model S, Continental supplies tires that safely transfer the high output of the electric powertrain to the road, ensure precise handling and short stopping distances, and offer low rolling resistance. Low rolling resistance is particularly important for electric vehicles because it helps save energy andcan substantially extend the range of the vehicle between charges. For the Tesla Model S, which is marketed worldwide, Continental developed a special XL version of its ContiSportContact 5 summer tire in size245/35 R 21 XL 96 W. The Tesla Model S is the world's first electrically powered luxury sedan to offer a range of up to 500 km. The car can seatup to seven occupants. The powertrain delivers up to 416 hp (306 kW), making for a top speed of 200 km/h. The Model S covers the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 4.4 seconds.

"We are delighted to receive this award and look forward to our ongoing cooperation with Tesla," said Rachna Naik, Senior Account Manager at Continental Tires the Americas, who received the award from Tesla's co-founder and CEO Elon Musk. "As we developed the tire for Tesla we faced the challenge of creating tires with low rolling resistance for a heavy luxury sedan with very demanding handling characteristics - and doing so in a very short time frame. In the process we had to resolve a series of conflicting objectives and we're delighted that we've been able to meet Tesla's high expectations of us as an original equipment supplier."

The Continental portfolio also includes a special line of tires for electric cars: the Conti.eContact summer tire and the Conti.eContact Winter. Maximum range is achieved with the unusual tire size 195/55 R 20, which offers a reduction in rolling resistance of up to 30 percent compared to standard tires. Approvals from Renault for the Conti.eContact in sizes 125/80 R 13 and 145/80 R 13 for the brand's agile urban two-seater the Twizzy, document Continental's ability to respond very flexibly to specific customer wishes with tailored-to-fit original equipment solutions.

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