PE company lands R75m export contract

PORT ELIZABETH-based Continental Tyre has landed a R75 million export contract to supply locally developed tyres to DaimlerChrysler in Germany. The Continental group has been developing tyres in South Africa for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter over the past two years.
According to the PE Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, this is the first time that a South African tyre manufacturer has been successful in developing and supplying tyres to DaimlerChrysler Germany.
The initial contract for the PE plant is for some 100 000 tyres this year and double this amount for 2002. As a direct result of the contract, Continental has invested R25 million in new equipment and technological improvements in the plant.