Hanover, April 2009. Already over 1.5 million cinemagoers in Germany alone have seen the fourth film in 'The Fast and the Furious' series. That had catapulted the US film by director Justin Lin straight to No. 1 in the German cinema charts. Also 'starring' in the film, alongside Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster, are tyres made by General Tire and Continental.

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The plot  revolves around American-made customised cars and their cool drivers. A steady stream of fast-moving scenes set in Los Angeles and the Mexican desert features action on and off the road with screaming tyres. "That's what makes this film just right for an audience of young car enthusiasts" comments a delighted Matthias Harlfinger, who is responsible for distribution of General Tire products in Hanover. "And that is why General Tire and Continental both supported it, because it takes an entertaining approach to demonstrating our products and their performance capabilities."

Harlfinger expects high audience figures not only in Germany and Europe, but also in Asia, Australia and the Arab world, because there are of course younger viewers, with a passion for car customising and high speed driving action, all over the world. And suitable products from both brands are also available worldwide.

General Tire - producing tyres since 1915

Founded in 1915 in Akron, Ohio, USA, General Tire can look back on a long history, with tyres for all types of motor vehicle being produced right from the firm's very early days.

In 1987 the company was taken over by Continental. General Tire now sells tyres for cars, trucks and industrial applications, plus dedicated tyres for 4x4 vehicles, worldwide.

With sales exceeding 24 billion in 2008, the Continental Corporation is one of the top automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of tyres, brake systems, systems and components for the powertrain and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics and technical elastomers, the corporation contributes towards enhanced driving safety and protection of the global climate. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. The corporation employs nearly 140,000 staff at approximately 190 locations in 35 countries.

Continental is Europe's market leader for car tyres. In the Original Equipment sector, over 30% of all new European cars leave the factory on Continental tyres. The Tyre Divisions are an Official Sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa^TM. For further details, visit www.ContiSoccerWorld.com.