Continental appointed Thomas Laudes Head of Continental Automotive Brake Systems India with effect from February 01, 2017. Thomas Laudes is in his new role the Head of Business Unit Hydraulic Brake Systems (HBS) India and succeeds Paramjit Chadha who made significant contributions to the company during his tenure.
Thomas Laudes
“We are happy to appoint a new head for the Continental Automotive Brake Systems and Business Unit Hydraulic Brake Systems organization in India. Thomas Laudes, comes with substantial experience in the area of Quality, which is vital to our success worldwide, as well as in India. Our HBS Plant in Manesar, Gurgaon has always been a strategic contributor to our success in the country and I am confident it will continue to grow under Thomas Laudes’ leadership,” said Claude d’Gama Rose, Managing Director, Continental Automotive Components India.
Taking charge of the new position, Thomas Laudes said: “It is a great opportunity and honor to lead the Continental Automotive Brake Systems organization in India. My focus will be on ensuring that the Hydraulic Brake Systems Plant (HBS) Plant and regional activities set an industry benchmark in the area of Quality and customer orientation. Together with my team, I look forward to setting and pursuing new goals and celebrating our successes.”
Thomas Laudes has over 27 years of experience in the automotive business, having worked with several Business Units within Continental. In his last role, he was Director Quality Management and Business Processes for Business Unit Passive Safety & Sensorics in Frankfurt, Germany. He has been closely associated with the transformation of the Business Unit from a sensor developer and manufacturer to a provider of Passive Safety Systems, offering a complete portfolio of control units, satellite sensors and wheel speed sensors among others, to leading automotive OEMs worldwide.
Laudes was also been involved in setting up the Business Processes and Quality methods for all Business Unit production plants and development areas. In this role he was instrumental in devising Continental Quality Management system and footprint to support the global Quality network of Continental.
Continental Automotive Brake Systems was established in 2008 in India, starting as a joint venture with Rico. The company became a fully owned subsidiary of Continental AG in 2012. The plant’s 7000 square meter production facility was set up in 2015 to produce Brake Calipers, Brake Actuation Units and Drum Brakes, to cater to increasing demand from customers. This facility also houses an enhanced R&D test lab. The location also directly exports to South Africa and Eastern Europe and indirectly to Europe and the ASEAN region. In 2016, Continental commenced the production of Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) units in India. A new assembly line for ABS and ESC for passenger cars is located in the Continental Automotive Brake Systems plant to meet the growing need for ABS and ESC in the Indian market.
Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable partner, the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner provides sustainable, safe, comfortable, individual, and affordable solutions. In 2016, the corporation generated sales of €40.5 billion with its five divisions, Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tire, and ContiTech. Continental currently employs more than 220,000 people in 56 countries.
The Chassis & Safety division develops and produces integrated active and passive driving safety technologies as well as products that support vehicle dynamics. The product portfolio ranges from electronic and hydraulic brake and chassis control systems to sensors, advanced driver assistance systems, airbag electronics and sensorics as well as electronic air suspension systems all the way to windscreen washer systems and headlight cleaning nozzles. The focus lies on a high level of system competence and the networking of individual components. Thus products and system functions are developed along the SensePlanAct chain of effects. They form the foundation for automated driving. Chassis & Safety employs more than 43,000 people worldwide and generated sales of €9.0 billion in 2016.
