Supplier Continental bets on electrification but rejects battery cell production

Continental, one of Europe's largest automotive suppliers, is increasing e-mobility investments but has decided against entering battery cell production. “The future is clearly electric. We are convinced of this,” said Andreas Wolf, head of Continental’s Powertrain division. The shift is "due to the tightening of political targets that are leading to an increasingly disruptive market in which future technologies are determined by regulations”, the company added. At the same time, Continental will cut investments in combustion-engine technology.

Continental's move is "remarkable for the usually conservative company”, business daily Handelsblatt writes, pointing out that it headlined its coverage: "Continental says good-bye to the combustion engine." E-mobility news service electrive noted, however, that contrary to earlier considerations, Continental would not enter into the production of solid-state battery cells. "Following Bosch, another top supplier is thus rejecting the risk of battery cell production," writes Chris Randall.