ContiTech is strengthening its innovation capabilities at its Surface Solutions site in Pune with investments in a dedicated Color Lab, expanded prototype development facilities and an enlarged local research and development (R&D) team. The initiatives are aimed at accelerating product development and providing enhanced support to automotive customers in India. The investment reflects ContiTech’s focus on strengthening local innovation and responding more effectively to the evolving requirements of automotive manufacturers through faster development cycles and closer technical collaboration.
“India is a key growth market for our business and an important pillar of our long-term development strategy. As automotive manufacturers increasingly seek localized development support, faster response times and closer technical collaboration, these enhanced local capabilities will help us better support our customers’ evolving needs,” said Alexander Scholz, Head of Business India, Surface Solutions at ContiTech. “This investment reinforces our ‘In India, for India’ approach and reflects our confidence in the continued growth potential of the Indian automotive industry.”
A key component of the investment is the planned establishment of India’s first dedicated Surface Solutions Color Lab. Equipped with advanced development and evaluation capabilities, the facility will support colour development and matching, appearance evaluation, and customer-specific material development for automotive interior applications. While primarily catering to projects in India, it will also support selected development activities across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions.
The Color Lab, together with new prototype development facilities, will strengthen local material evaluation and product development capabilities, enabling faster assessment and validation of customer-specific interior solutions. As a global market leader in automotive interior materials, ContiTech works with vehicle manufacturers by combining design expertise, premium-quality materials and durability with strong technical capabilities. Increasing demand for premium interior experiences and advanced synthetic material solutions is creating further opportunities for innovation across the automotive sector.
“Automotive interiors have become a key differentiator for vehicle brands. Customers increasingly expect premium, comfortable and individualized interior experiences, while OEMs seek innovative and sustainable material solutions. This investment will strengthen our ability to develop and validate color concepts locally, enabling closer collaboration with customers and supporting the next generation of interior design and material solutions for the Indian market,” said Burak Üzel, Head of Design, Surface Solutions.
ContiTech also plans to strengthen its local R&D organisation with the addition of four new positions. The expanded team will deepen technical expertise and support customer development programmes across the region. As part of the site’s development, Alok Pandey has recently been appointed Head of Plant Management Pune. He will lead the continued development of the facility, supporting the expansion of local innovation, operational excellence and customer-focused capabilities.
“The expertise and dedication of our local teams are key to our success. With the planned expansion of our R&D organization, enhanced technical capabilities and strong local leadership, Pune will continue to grow as an important contributor to our global innovation network. I am confident that the team’s expertise and commitment will support our future growth and create additional value for customers,” said Jan-Philipp Behrndt, Head of Operations Automotive Plants, Surface Solutions. Strategically located near Pune, one of India’s leading automotive manufacturing hubs, the ContiTech Surface Solutions site supplies premium interior surface materials for passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, serving leading automotive OEMs in India.
Continental is a leading tyre manufacturer and industry specialist. Founded in 1871, the company generated sales of €19.7 billion in 2025 and employs around 76,000 people across 54 countries and markets. ContiTech is one of the world’s leading material experts for industrial applications. The Continental Group sector provides materials-based industrial and service solutions for off-highway applications, railways, roads, aviation, underground and above-ground environments, industrial operations, the food sector and the furniture industry. With approximately 20,000 employees as of March 2026 and more than 60 locations worldwide, ContiTech recorded sales of around €6.0 billion in 2025. The global industrial partner has a strong presence in Asia, Europe, and North and South America.
