Continental and Ford Announce A Tire Replacement Plan

    CHARLOTTE, N.C.--June 4, 2001--Continental Tire North America, Inc. (CTNA) and Ford Motor Company announced in a joint statement how the two companies will assist customers with the replacement of all Firestone Wilderness AT tires on Ford's vehicles.
    CTNA has increased its production in its six tire plants in North America to provide several million tires to Ford and Mercury dealers, wholesalers and independent tire dealers in North America.
    Continental is Ford's largest tire supplier in the US and Europe and has received the Ford no 1 global tire supplier award in 1999 and 2000. "We are pleased that we can help Ford to replace the 13 million tires on its trucks and SUVs and make this process as convenient as possible for the consumer," said Ulrich Wellen, COO of Continental Tire North America.
    Affected customers can go to Ford and Mercury dealers, authorized wholesalers or independent dealers to exchange their tires with Continental or General brand tires for free as part of Ford's replacement program. Customers do not have to pay for the replacement tires as CTNA has arranged to get reimbursed by Ford.
    Ford has placed a list of authorized Continental and General tires on its website at www.ford.com. Consumers may also call Continental tire toll free at 800-847-3349 for more information.
    Based in Charlotte, NC, Continental Tire North America, Inc. (www.contigentire.com) is a group company of Germany-based Continental AG, a leading systems supplier to the automotive industry. With annual sales of approximately US $1.6 billion, Continental Tire North America, Inc. has 9,300 employees and operates plants in Bryan, Ohio; Charlotte, NC: Mayfield, Ky.; Mt. Vernon, Il.; Barnesville, Ga. and Guadalajara and San Luis Potosi, Mexico. It is a major supplier to the original equipment and replacement tire markets, selling Continental, General, Euzkadi and private brands in NAFTA.