A signing ceremony for the Benecke Changshun Research and Development Center is held in Zhangjiagang. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]

On April 22, Continental's Surface Solutions Business Unit in the Asia-Pacific region signed an agreement to establish the Benecke Changshun Research and Development Center in Zhangjiagang.

This new project represents a total investment of 200 million yuan ($27.6 million) and is expected to serve over 60 top-tier automotive parts suppliers and more than 20 major automobile manufacturers. Construction is scheduled to begin in June.

Wolfgang Thomale, director of the Surface Solutions Business Unit at Continental, attends the ceremony. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]

Wolfgang Thomale, director of the Surface Solutions Business Unit at Continental, remarked during the signing ceremony that the rapid growth of China's automotive market and the strong support from Zhangjiagang have driven Continental's successful expansion in China. The new R&D center is designed to meet the diverse needs of China's automotive market by providing innovative, environmentally friendly, and high-quality solutions.

Continental, founded in 1871 and headquartered in Hanover, Germany, is a renowned Fortune Global 500 company and a leading supplier of automotive parts. The partnership between Continental and Changshun Group dates back to 2005, when they established Benecke Changshun Auto Trim (Zhangjiagang) Co Ltd.

In recent years, Zhangjiagang has become a magnet for leading automotive and auto parts manufacturers, including Great Wall Motors, ZF Group, Magna International, and JATCO. This trend aligns with the city's goal of developing a trillion-yuan automotive industry innovation cluster.