The product will be manufactured by Schaeffler, a company that owns 49.9 percent of Continental’s shares. This is a new ground for Schaeffler too, as the company has only partially contributed to similar projects in the past.
According to autonews, the production is scheduled to start in late 2011. The output figure for the part should reach 2 million units by 2014. The turbo will equip gasoline engines and will be featured on a mainstream car underpinned by a European platform.
Continental is aiming to gain a market share of the gasoline segment - downsized engine market. As fuel consumption and emissions become more and more important issues, this part of the market becomes a key target for the automotive industry.
"Turbocharging gasoline engines is becoming ever more important since it is the only way to achieve the downsizing of engines that is essential to the reduction of fuel consumption," Peter Gutzmer, Continental's head of the engine systems in the company's powertrain division, told autonews.
Continental is best known for its tires (it is the world’s 4th largest tire manufacturer) but the German company also produces vehicle stability control systems, braking systems, engine injection systems and dashboard instruments. The company also has a strong presence on the North American market, through Continental Tire of North America, based in South Carolina.
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