Innovation & Technology

Anyone who has ever sat in front of an integrated display in a car of the latest generation, which fits seamlessly in a C or L shape across the entire width of the vehicle cockpit, will quickly realize that the production of such a “pillar-to-pillar display” is highly complex and places enormous demands on manufacturing quality. This is only possible with highly qualified employees and consistent standardization, automation, and digitization in production to create essential economic and technological synergies. We therefore rely on so-called megafactories for the production of its display solutions, digital clusters and head-up displays (HUD). The term "mega" describes not only the scope of the production technologies used, but also the size and quantity of the products to be produced.

The UX business area produces at a total of twelve locations worldwide, including the megafactories in Brandýs nad Labem (Czech Republic) and Timișoara (Romania). Both sites have been expanded over the years and are pioneers in digitally networked production technologies and Industry 4.0.

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Imagine a future where Continental Automotive designs and verifies semiconductors on our own, ensuring a resilient supply chain and reducing geopolitical risks. This vision has become reality with the creation of the Advanced Electronics & Semiconductor Solutions (AESS) organization. Operating as a fabless semiconductor company, AESS will collaborate with international partners to design and verify semiconductors for crucial components inhouse.

Automotive’s strategic decision to invest in semiconductor technology highlights our company’s strong commitment to innovation and market leadership. The AESS unit will produce high-quality, efficient semiconductor solutions, securing long-term cost advantages, strengthening our technological leadership, and achieving greater independence.

By leveraging a lean setup and embedded functions from Central Functions, the AESS unit will steer a more resilient and competitive supply chain. This move not only benefits our current colleagues but also opens up new opportunities for the future.  

“We’re actually thinking in two directions: firstly, about how we can expand Automotive’s technology portfolio by working closely with the business areas to help them find technologies for specific applications. Secondly, we analyze innovations and developments in the market and consider which of them might be meaningful additions to our portfolio and could enrich the mobility of the future,” explains Jürgen Bilo, adding: “We’ve successfully integrated a wide range of technologies and have a well stocked pipeline for future products.”

One example of this is the start-up Deep-Drive. It will enable Automotive to expand its product portfolio with integrated brake and drive systems in the future. Another example is our strategic collaboration with banbutsu. In conjunction with our eTravel.Companion, banbutsu transforms the vehicle into a personalized experiential space. In addition to using all the display channels, as well as light and sound, graphics can be projected onto the side windows. New business models are conceivable, such as use for advertising brand communication, personalization or the seamless integration of product and service offerings.

“Even though car manufacturers are increasing their vertical integration, especially in the areas of electric drives and software, the automotive industry will evolve into a connected ecosystem of tech partners, start-ups, automotive suppliers and OEMs. For automotive suppliers, this presents a wealth of opportunities to expand their business models – as co-pace, we’re making a key contribution to unlocking this potential at an early stage,” says Jürgen Bilo.

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