Automotive components major Continental has taken over full ownership of its former joint venture, Zytek Automotive, based in Fradley in the United Kingdom. This is effective from February 3, 2014. It previously had a 50 percent shareholding in Zytek Automotive. Both companies have agreed not to disclose the price for the acquisition. In future, Zytek Automotive will operate as a part of the Continental Engineering Services (CES) organisation in the United Kingdom, embracing CES’s complete service and technology portfolio, and thus providing engineering services covering the chassis, the interior and the powertrain.
Zytek Automotive in Fradley
“This acquisition allows us to meet the increasing need for engineering services. Whether it’s from vehicle manufacturers or suppliers – we are seeing an increase in requests for special customer-specific designs and for components for small-scale production runs or niche vehicles, in areas such as electronic brakes, the chassis and the powertrain”, said Bernd Neitzel, Managing Director of Continental Engineering Services.
Zytek Automotive employs 150 people at its headquarters in Fradley near Birmingham and has particularly well-developed expertise in all areas of automotive technology and vehicle engineering. Its customers include OEMs in Europe, the USA and Japan. The company’s main focus of activity has so far been on conventional, electrical and hybrid drive systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
Since 2006 CES has been active worldwide as an independent operating provider of comprehensive engineering services. It also has access to the full range of support provided by Continental’s technology pool. With its locations and development teams in Europe, America and Asia, CES has a presence within range of all its important industrial partners. The main focus of activity is in automotive electronics, drive and chassis technology, as well as electrical mobility. Its work ranges from the consultation of concept studies up to the realisation of prototypes and small series, while having control over the complete product development process.
