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Continental's Chassis & Safety Division Garners Toyota's Most Prestigious Supplier Award for Superior Quality in 2007


PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)

Production of a high-quality braking system for the Toyota Yaris recognized

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 29 -- Toyota Motor Europe awarded its highest supplier recognition for a superior quality braking system and outstanding management performance to Continental's Chassis & Safety Division on April 17, 2008.

More than 600 suppliers attended the Toyota Motor Europe's annual supplier's conference in Brussels where Dr. Ralf Cramer, President of the Chassis & Safety Division, accepted the award on behalf of Continental. The Toyota Yaris subcompact car offers Continental's complete braking system.

"This award fills me with great pride because achieving such an outstanding result for a complete braking system represents a major overall effort," said Dr. Cramer. "Special thanks should go to all the production sites involved, Cairo Montenotte (Italy), Frankfurt, Gifhorn, Jicin (Czech Republic), Mechelen (Belgium), Manila (Philippines), Rheinbollen and Vezprem (Hungary)," added Dr. Cramer.

Five categories -- Project Management, Supply, Cost Management, Quality and Value -- are eligible to receive Toyota's Supplier Award.

Continental has a long-standing partnership with Toyota in Europe and North America as a supplier of brake components and sub-systems. Collaboration on the Yaris project began in 2002. The current model Yaris was the first Toyota for which Continental supplied the design and integration of the entire braking system. In 2005 Continental gained the Toyota Superior Award for Project Management as a direct result of establishing a team-based working environment.

Continental produces the components for the Toyota Yaris braking system in eight plants worldwide. Two other suppliers are directly involved as well. The assemblies supplied include electronic braking systems such as ABS and ESC with brake assist, ESC sensor clusters, master brake cylinders and brake boosters as well as active wheelspeed sensors and wheel brakes for front and rear axles and brake disks and drums.

With targeted annual sales of more than euro 26.4 billion for 2008, the Continental Corporation is one of the top automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for the powertrain and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers, the corporation contributes towards enhanced driving safety and protection of the global climate. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. Today, the corporation employs approximately 150,000 people at nearly 200 locations in 36 countries.

As a worldwide leading technology and systems partner to the automotive industry, the Chassis & Safety Division of Continental AG integrates extensive know-how and leading-edge quality in the fields of active and passive driving safety, safety and chassis sensorics, and chassis components. The Division achieves sales of more than euro 5 billion (based on 2006 figures) with a workforce of more than 27,500 (2007). Chassis & Safety develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake and chassis control systems, sensors, driver assistance systems, air bag control systems, occupant classification systems, washer systems as well as electronic air suspension systems.