The complete destruction of the traditional Continental group is imminent: The company is now planning to sell the industrial business of the Contitech area by the end of 2026. The Contitech (OESL) automotive business is already for sale. The automotive sector will go to the stock exchange as a spin-off on April 25, 2025 in autumn. In future, Continental AG would only consist of the tire business.
“The separation of Contitech in these times of global economic uncertainty is socially irresponsible, economically daring and technologically nonsensical,” criticizes Francesco Grioli, member of the executive IGBCE head of the IGBCE and the Continental supervisory board. “Two business areas are to be torn apart here, which have been forming the heart of the traditional group for decades and which are closely interwoven at the beginning of the production chain. The capital side thus drives the rampant crowds for years. This project meets our decisive resistance,” said Grioli. “It may not be that the owners can approve a higher dividend from year to year and let the company bleed out.”
Grioli called for long-term employment and location security as well as an investment offensive for ContiTech. So far, this has assured a key point paper that the company, IGBCE and overall works council had already negotiated two years ago. In fact, it will be able to rule out operational terminations by the end of 2026. Until then, at least 200 million euros should be invested in the German locations. Investments include, among other things, in a long-term future-proof production footprint, such as C02-neutral and intelligent factories. At least 200 apprenticeships are to be made available annually. “A significant and decisive factor for the successful design of these changes is and remain our employees, in the factories as well as in the areas of employees,” says the cornerstone paper from 2023.
“Without a clear expansion of these guarantees and a reliable employment security, we will not agree to this split. The Contitech employees are entitled to securing future and investments in their locations. It is due to the employer side – the door is still open. can make Rasa, ”said Grioli.
“As IG Metall, we are at the side of the colleagues at Contitech and IGBCE. The metal women among the ContiTech employees are also not allowed to fall by the wayside. All of them need resilient commitments for their jobs.
“For us as a group works council, our darkest scenarios become reality: In the middle of an economy characterized by massive uncertainty worldwide, decisions of enormous scope are made, especially at breathtaking speed. Unranted.