Continental Automotive India’s Gurgaon plant has reached a significant production milestone with the manufacture of ten million Electronic Brake Systems (EBS) and one hundred million Wheel Speed Sensors (WSS). These components are crucial for vehicle safety, contributing to systems like Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS).
The EBS portfolio produced by Continental includes ESC for passenger cars and ABS for both passenger cars and two-wheelers. ESC enhances a vehicle’s directional stability and steerability, while ABS prevents wheel lock-up and maintains steerability during braking. WSS signals are essential for control systems like ABS and ESC.
Road safety remains a critical concern in India, where 53 accidents and 19 deaths occur every hour, or an average of 1,264 accidents and 42 deaths daily, according to a 2023 report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. To address these safety challenges, ABS technology was mandated in 2019, with a proposal for ESC regulation introduced in 2022.
Sukhdeep Sandhu, Head of Safety and Motion at Continental Automotive India, emphasized the company’s commitment to road safety: “Safety is non-negotiable. At Continental, we have consistently brought relevant technologies to the market for our customers, helping make vehicles and our roads safer. Our expertise in active and passive safety systems is a key driver in reducing traffic-related fatalities, injuries, and road accidents.”
Sandhu also highlighted the importance of localization in Continental’s strategy: “Supported by legislation that has played a significant role in enhancing vehicular safety, we have been able to localize both production and R&D, providing greater value to our customers. Indian customers are proactive in adopting safety technologies.”
Continental’s long-term strategy, “Vision Zero,” aims for a world without road fatalities, injuries, or crashes. The company is a major manufacturer of WSS in India, supplying these components to leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) domestically and exporting to Asian and European markets.
Anudeep Garg, Head of the Gurgaon plant, stated, “We are proud to achieve this milestone and remain focused on localization. As a Tier 1 supplier, we adhere to global manufacturing standards and have integrated advanced technologies, including Industry 4.0, to maintain product quality, enhance efficiency, and streamline our supply chain. We aim to increase manufacturing capacity for EBS and WSS in double-digit percentages over the next three years.”
Continental’s approach, “in the market, for the market,” focuses on localizing the entire value chain from R&D to production, enabling easier access to safety products and adapting proven global technologies to local needs.