Special Interview with Continental Middle East MD, talking about the future of tires and which market is the main market in our region for Continental Tires. During the launch testing of the SportContact 7 tires by Continental, we had the chance to interview Mr. José Luis De la Fuente - Continental Middle East, Managing Director, and talk about everything.
Nabil: First of all welcome back to the Middle East.
Jose: Thank you very much
Nabil: How long has it been since you were here?
Jose: I left here 5 years ago to go to Mexico, a different part of the world, a different market and now I am back here since last month.
Nabil: What has changed?
Jose: So, I can say, a lot of EVs are coming to the market, that will change a lot of things, and I can see a lot of activity in the retail area, e-commerce growing, a lot of exciting things are happening in the market at the moment, I have been here for only one month and I can see the new Era.
Nabil: I want to talk a little bit about sustainability, since continental is a global leader in the world of sustainability, conferences, products, 2050 vision, and all of that stuff, how are you going to translate that into our region? What are you doing to elevate the level of awareness about sustainability in the region and also to abide by the global strategy of continental when it comes to sustainability?
Jose: You are right when you said we are leaders in this area, all dealers are working with us, and we are proud of all of them, the question is more about communication, how to communicate the sustainability with the markets that we are present in. The strategy of continental is well developed and we are doing a great job in Germany or Europe, but also we need to explain to the market how everyone can help in this area.
From our side, We are producing fantastic products and sustainable products, but again it’s a question of how we communicate having these products and how these products can support our common goal.
Nabil: What are the plans?
Jose: We have a product that we launched a few weeks ago, that is 65% from recycled materials. It’s amazing really because we have been thinking for a few years about having 5%, 10%, or 15% of these recycled materials but we reached 65% so our target in 2050 is everything will become from recycled materials as the technology is developing rapidly, I look forward for the things to be happening in the middle east.
Nabil: Since we are talking about the Middle East market, now you are here and you’re seeing the new changes will this be reflected in terms of the image of continental? How do you plan to position the tire and all of that stuff for the Middle East market?
Jose: We have too many areas, not only for the Gulf, we have also the Egypt, Lebanon which are also part of our region plus countries in Africa, so we have different kinds of approaches for each area. But the focus is on the Middle East, as well as some countries of the Levant. I believe we are good players, and we know how to be present in the high-performance part of the market where we are more relevant and have good products, so here will be our main focus at the moment—being a good partner for our importers in this area.
Nabil: You are going to be working on making more dedicated continental facilities in the region or this isn’t something you would like to invest in?
Jose: there is one important part in how to support our importers to be more present in each country. This is very important; the image of our products is part of our responsibility. So yes retail will be one part and commerce will be another part, we want to be more present in the market.
Nabil: Eventually you have different markets in the Middle East, which market is the biggest? Which country has the biggest market share? Which country do you consider has the highest potential?
Jose: in this case, UAE no doubt it’s our main market and best market, and we have Egypt as a superb market as well. These two countries will continue to be our focus for the coming years.
Nabil: When we talk about this region, especially in the Gulf, UAE in particular, it’s one of the countries that has the highest humidity, and temperature in the summertime, and we know that continental takes some feedback from the market and develops special tires for the region, what can you tell us about that?
Jose: We did it in the past, and it is something we do often, working with other departments to get the best product for this region.
In the past, we launched generation six, continental generation six which was a special product with special compounds for this region. It was a success and now we want to continue in this direction not only for passengers but also for the trucks, we know that there are special conditions in this region different from other markets especially Europe, so we want to continue focusing on developing different materials, different tools, and different compounds, also because there is different certification model which is helping us to have a constant view of the market needs.
Nabil: You are doing that on the tires available in the market? So these are special tires made for the region?
Jose: Yes these special tires are made for the region with special compounds also we are choosing in the portfolio of continental which are performing better in the Middle East.
Nabil: Last question about the Sport Contact 7, what are your expectations from that tire since today we are in the event of the Sport Contact 7 for its exclusivity for the UAE market and the GCC region?
Jose: It’s a very highly developed set of tires, the sport contact 7 is focused on these super-fast cars that we have today in the event, where these tires can perform best. We made this product two years ago in Europe and only one and a half years in the Middle East and it's growing fast. There is room to do many things and this kind of event is very important to explain the characteristics of the product, especially for the Gulf countries.
Nabil: Anything you would like to add?
Jose: Thank you very much for coming here and for your interest in what we are doing, and we hope to see you soon.
Wael is an automotive content writer specializes in creating written content for Motor 283. Producing a wide range of content, including blog posts, articles, product descriptions, reviews, and technical guides related to cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles, with an unprecedented passion for cars, and motorcycles.
Bridgestone, a global leader in tyres and sustainable mobility solutions, reiterated its steadfast commitment to empowering women in the world of motorsports through partnerships and event organisation across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. This significant step underscores the company’s bold vision to drive positive change by fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I).
Under the umbrella of its corporate strategy, the ‘E8 Commitment,’ Bridgestone partnered with well-known motorsports events, such as Rally Jameel and Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles, as well as hosted the adrenaline-pumping ‘Desert Divas’ event, to foster gender equality in sports by providing women with equal opportunities across all disciplines. Through these initiatives, Bridgestone sought to celebrate the strength, unwavering determination, and the undeniable power of female excellence in sports. All of these events provided an ideal platform for the company to assert that gender biases have no place in the world of motorsports.
The wait is over. Today, on the occasion of the 2024 Milan Design Week, the prestigious Antera brand makes its comeback on the global scene with a new collection of light alloy wheels for the automotive industry. The collection will be inaugurated by the brand’s ambassador Roberto Baggio, the footballing legend who, thanks to his successful career and winning mindset, is the perfect embodiment of the Italian brand’s spirit of 'No Compromise'.
The choice of the famous Number 10 of the Italian national team, a radiant example of sporting excellence, perseverance, and generosity, contributes to reinforcing the slogan at the center of the Antera’s new campaign: “Where instinct meets genius, the myth becomes legend”. Indeed, Roberto Baggio, the winner of the 1993 Ballon d’Or and a playmaker with refined technique and unique style, has proven that the most important goals, as regards both sport and everyday life, are achieved through commitment and quality which does not take shortcuts, but rather prizes dedication, courage, and vision. These are the same ingredients of the ‘No Compromise’ philosophy which G.M.P. Group, a company specialized in the global design and production of alloy wheels, intends to employ to bring the historic Panther brand back to its former glory.
Marco Mancin, Head of G.M.P. Group, states: “Originally, the founder Marco Muzzarelli’s vision guided the Antera brand via the principle of ‘No Compromise’, creating a place where dreams and reality could come together and desire be turned into creation. This led to prestigious and invaluable products which reached across space and time to achieve the most authentic expression of excellence. Today, with the same winning mindset and an important five-year plan, we are writing a new page in Antera’s history that will bring the brand back to the Mt. Olympus of light alloy-wheel producers.”
Marco Finazzi, Chief Commercial Officer: “We have always been innovators and visionaries in our field, and we aim to restore luster to the Brand through the development of innovation, identification, and a process of concrete internationalization. One thing that will never change is our loyalty to the fundamental values which forged the brand’s world-renowned identity, and the determination to pursue our business vision whatever the challenges that emerge along the way. And we are sure other companies of the group will want to share a common path towards growth and development in their fields, always relying on the philosophy of ‘No Compromise’. With this frame of mind, we want to challenge the status quo in order to offer unconventional products that are able to anticipate the needs of an exclusive clientele.
Bridgestone EMEA, a global leader in tires and sustainable mobility solutions, showcased the promising future of fleets in the Middle East during its participation in the Truck and Fleet Conference. The event, which was held recently, brought together industry leaders, providing insights into sustainable practices, digital transformations, and the evolving landscape of urban mobility.
The Middle East, by leveraging its robust infrastructure, is set to leverage global focuses on sustainability and digitalisation. At the event, Bridgestone EMEA underlined the region’s potential and commitment to advancing the future of fleet management.
SHARE
