Continental to Help Get the Message to Encourage Seat Belt Use and Discourage Impaired Driving

AUSTIN, Texas, April 10 -- Safety technology supplier and Lifesavers Conference sponsor Continental Automotive Systems announced today that its Safely There! mobile educational truck will include National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) messaging to encourage safety belt use and discourage impaired driving.

Jim Gill, M.S. APR, Director of Public Relations said, "Combining education about the latest available safety equipment in new vehicles and reminders about what people can do individually to make motor vehicle travel safer go hand-in-hand."

"It goes with our corporate philosophy that 'safety sells,' but sells best when accompanied with public education about the importance of various safety enhancements," he said. "It is reflective of our Total Vehicle Safety approach to reducing crashes and injuries."

"Today's motor vehicles offer an incredible array of built-in safety enhancements, and more are in the pipeline. But of all the safety advances over the last quarter century safety belt use remains the first line of defense on the road. And, despite constant warnings over the same time period and stepped up enforcement too many still drive intoxicated, putting themselves and the rest of us at risk," he added.

Continental's Safely There! tractor-trailer truck -- a multi-million dollar commitment to public safety education -- was introduced several years ago and since has toured the nation to inform consumers about Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and other crash prevention safety technology now available. The truck visits shopping malls, civic events, auto shows, state fairs and other venues. An extensive refit was completed recently to update the information based on latest technology advances in the auto industry. The new version of the truck will be unveiled officially this spring in Washington, DC.

The company also has a Drive Safer America! website to provide easily accessible public education materials on motor vehicle safety (http://www.drivesaferamerica.org/).

Continental was the first to introduce ESC to the mass market and over the past ten years the company has conducted educational ESC ride and drive demonstrations at Lifesavers, the Governors Highway Safety Association annual meeting, driver education conferences, auto dealer training events and other locales.

"We are proud to sponsor Lifesavers because preventing crashes is the bottom line we all strive for. Efforts of the highway safety community to affect behavior changes and our technology combine to provide the American people with a remarkable level of safety on the road," Gill said.

Continental AG and Motorola, Inc. on April 3, 2006 announced that Continental will acquire Motorola's automotive electronics business.

Motorola is a household name in electronics. It invented in 1930 the first commercially successful car radio; in 1961 the first all-electronic alternator system; in 1980 the first computerized electronic engine control module; and in 1996 the first telematics messaging system.

The acquisition advances Continental's vision and goal to provide motorists with the latest and best in technology-based safety systems to make driving easier, safer and more enjoyable-telematics (embedded wireless vehicle communications); powertrain and chassis control (steering, suspension, occupant detection electronics, and electronic stability control); body electronics (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and electronics for power doors, seats, windows and mirrors).

The Continental Corporation is a leading supplier of brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers. In 2005 the corporation realized sales of EUR 13.8 billion. At present it has a worldwide workforce of approximately 80,000.

As a worldwide leading technology partner to the automotive industry, the Automotive Systems Division of Continental AG integrates extensive know-how and uncompromising quality in the fields of driving safety, powertrain and comfort. In 2005 the Division achieved sales of approx. 5.2 billion euros with a workforce of more than 24,000. Continental Automotive Systems develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake, stability and chassis control systems, electronic air suspension systems, sensors, engine management and transmission control systems, hybrid drives, cooling fan modules as well as body and security electronics.

In 2006 Continental Automotive Systems celebrates altogether 100 years of successful automotive technologies. The slogan "Forward Thinking" points to the future and the mission to keep pushing for new dimensions in safe mobility and the joy of driving cars.