Continental says it has appointed board member Ralf Cramer as president of the company’s organisation in China from 1 August this year.
Cramer has been a member of Continental’s executive board since August, 2009 and head of the Chassis & Safety division since December, 2007. His successor will be appointed and announced later.
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“It is our strategic goal to increase the share of corporate sales on the Asian market from 18% at present to more than 30% over time,” said Continental CEO, Elmar Degenhart. “Here, our growth engine is China, which today is already the largest manufacturer and market for automobiles. By 2020, China will be the world’s largest market for premium automobiles.
“Nowhere in the world will the demand for individual mobility and industrial goods be growing stronger than there. This is why Ralf Cramer will focus his full attention on our challenges in this market. In doing so, we want to strengthen our local organisation and position ourselves to benefit from fast, profitable and lasting growth in this important market.”
For his part, Cramer noted: “I am looking forward to the challenge of helping to shape the future of one of the most important growth markets for individual mobility. We see great opportunities for our full range of products and services in China in particular.
“The booming demand for safe, eco-friendly and comfortable mobility is driving development of products tailored to the local market and the local culture. The share of applications developed locally will thus increase significantly in the years ahead. Over time, more than eight out of ten of our new applications are expected to be developed locally.”
