Continental is planning a new development site for advanced driver assistance systems in Ulm

“The availability of engineers, the proximity to vehicle manufacturers and universities as well as the central location relative to our other German sites for driver assistance systems in Lindau, Ingolstadt and Ottobrunn will create a good environment, and they were key to our decision to put a branch in Ulm,” said Marcel Verweinen, Head of the HR Department in the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Business Unit. Conversations are currently underway with investors and with the City of Ulm regarding suitable real estate. The plan is to create a pure research and development site, so lab facilities will be needed in addition to a building. In particular, we are looking for qualified engineers in the areas of software and hardware, mechanics, algorithm development, system testing and project management for radar, infrared and camera technologies. The planned new hires emphasize the Business Unit’s growth trajectory and its significance. More than 1,000 employees worldwide work in the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Business Unit, in the United States, Japan and Romania as well as at the German sites.

The business developments of recent years have shown that advanced driver assistance systems are becoming the growth engine of Continental’s Chassis & Safety Division. It was only in April 2012 that the business was combined into its own Business Unit, located in Lindau, Germany. The objective is to ensure further profitable, high-quality growth in the coming years, as well as smooth market launches for innovative technologies like the stereo camera and radar.

“Driver assistance systems are considered a key technology when it comes to increasing driver safety, and they support our goal of moving toward accident-free driving,” continued Friedrich Angerbauer. “It’s impossible to imagine a modern car without these invisible co-pilots, which are used every day on the road.” Driver assistance features have already become established in luxury and mid-range vehicles. Since last year, these systems are also increasingly found in compact cars. For instance, the emergency brake assist for city driving has already been built into some smaller vehicles.