86 | AutoPartsAsia | FEBRUARY 2018T
echnology company
Continental again
experienced above average
and profitable growth in
fiscal 2017. With sales of around €44
billion, representing a more than eight
percent growth year-on-year, and an
adjusted EBIT margin of around 10.8
percent, Continental has exceeded its
annual targets.
Continental CEO Dr Elmar
Degenhart appeared pleased
with the preliminary key data
announced during the Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) in Las
Vegas, “Continental’s success curve
continues to point upwards. Our
innovative technologies in the areas
of assisted and automated driving,
connectivity and electrification
again helped us achieve above-average growth. Our hard work for
our customers has paid off, and our
customers appreciate this. This is
reflected most notably in the increase
in incoming orders for our Automotive
Group, which rose to more than €39
billion in 2017.”Before consolidation and exchange
rate effects, the sales growth
amounted to around eight percent.
To put this into context, Continental
grew much faster than for instance
the global market for the production
of cars and light commercial vehicles,
which was – based on preliminary
data – up by just two percent year-
on-year.
“As expected, the fourth quarter of
the past fiscal year saw solid sales
and earnings. This was due primarily
to the growth of our Automotivedivisions and of our industry specialist
ContiTech, as well as our business
with winter tyres, where sales
volumes in 2017 again surpassed the
strong figures of the prior year,” CFO
Wolfgang Schaefer, said.
For 2018, Continental anticipates
sales to grow to around €47 billion.
An adjusted EBIT margin of around
10.5 percent is expected to be
achieved comfortably. At the same
time, the company from Hanover,
Germany, expects a slight increase
in the global production of cars and
light commercial vehicles of more
than one percent to around 97 million
vehicles.
Continental will release its preliminary
business figures on March 8, 2018,
as part of its digital annual financial
press conference.APA Bureau
Continental Exceeds 2017 Annual Targets
N
issan has sold its 300,000th
Nissan LEAF globally since
the model first went on sale
in 2010. The 100 percent
electric LEAF is the world’s first mass-
produced, and claimed to be the
world’s best-selling, electric car.
Nissan launched a fully redesigned
version of the LEAF in September- Drivers will feel more confident,
excited and connected thanks to the
car’s ProPILOT (ProPILOT Assist in
the US) technology, ProPILOT Park
technology, e-Pedal, increased power
and range, and improved refinement,
comfort and convenience.“These numbers prove that the
Nissan LEAF remains the most
advanced car in the world, with
the widest reach and the greatest
availability,” Nissan Executive Vice
President Daniele Schillaci, said.
“The new Nissan LEAF is the icon of
Nissan Intelligent Mobility because it
delivers an even more exciting drive
and enhanced ownership experienceand contributes to a better world. It
will take Nissan’s EV leadership even
further.”The new Nissan LEAF is slated
for immediate deliveries in the
US, Canada and Europe and will
be sold in more than 60 markets
worldwide. Nissan’s work on vehicle
electrification and intelligence is
part of Nissan Intelligent Mobility,
the company’s vision for changing
how cars are powered, driven and
integrated into society.Nissan Delivers 300,000th LEAF
APA Bureau
GLEANINGS International