Mt. Vernon, IL (January 25, 2007) – Continental Tire North American, Inc. (CTNA) proudly accepted the keys to the city of Mt. Vernon in a ceremony held Wednesday. Mt. Vernon’s Mayor David Keen presented Dr. Alan Hippe, CTNA President and Conti-AG Chief Financial Officer, and Matthias Schoenberg, CTNA Chief Executive Officer, gold key plaques symbolizing the keys to the city. 

"CTNA has always been a friend to Mt. Vernon – contributing to our community, our schools and our hospitals, and employing thousands of employees at this facility," stated Mayor David Keen. "Last year CTNA took it to a new level when they announced a capital investment of $60 to $70 million in the Mt. Vernon facility, and then later announced increased funding for this facility of between $70 -100 million over the next three years as the facility continues to become globally cost competitive."

Continental Tire is committed to the success of its brands and will continue to invest in the corporation.

Continental Tire North America, Inc. (www.continentaltire.com), based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a group company of Germany-based Continental Corporation, a leading supplier of brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers. In 2005 the corporation realized sales of EUR 13.8 billion (USD 17.2 billion). At present it has a worldwide workforce of about 85,000.