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About our CompanyContinental Teves ProfileHistory
A world leader with almost a hundred years of experience

A pioneering spirit and ingenuity pave the way to success

Today Continental Teves is one of the world’s leading automotive suppliers. Like most companies of its kind, it owes its rise to an enterprising spirit and an enthusiasm for technology that goes back to the early days of the automobile.


Alfred Teves, the company's founder, witnessed the automobiles rise and realised that by pursuing technical innovations his company could play an important role in the young industry. From hydraulic brakes to ABS, ATE was a pioneer, repeatedly setting milestones in vehicle control systems. ATE sees itself as a partner of the automotive industry and stays constantly focused on the needs of final customers. It also supplies brake systems for car racing. The performance improvements achieved in this area are incorporated into series production, ensuring that driving fun and safety always go hand in hand.

Important milestones:


1898
Alfred Teves, born in 1868, begins working at the Adler bicycle plant in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. He witnesses the rise of the automobile, and in 1902 he becomes the company's first car salesman.

1906
Founding of the Alfred Teves company, an authorised dealer for automotive accessories. A few days later, Teves has a stand at the IAA in Frankfurt.

1909
Together with the engineer Matthäus Braun, Teves founds the Mitteldeutsche Kühlerfabrik, a radiator manufacturing company. Teves now has a business to complement his dealerships, and he is able to supply the automotive industry directly. His customers include Audi, Wanderer and Hansa

1911
Founding of the Alfred Teves Maschinen- und Armaturenfabrik. By 1919, after the First World War, production of parts is of greater importance to Teves than the agencies. The company gains a name for itself among automotive suppliers as a manufacturer of high-quality piston rings and brake systems.

1921
The brand name ATE replaces the previous logo consisting of a piston ring, fist and hammer. ATE�s blue packages become a symbol of top quality in more and more workshops and companies.

1926
Teves is a pioneer in the introduction of hydraulic brakes in Europe. The Adler Standard, fitted with ATE Lockheed brakes, is the first car in Europe with a hydraulic brake system. ATE solidifies its market position by introducing innovative technological developments and new casting processes.

1934
Auto-Union and Daimler-Benz use ATE brake systems, optimised by Teves for motor sports, in their 750 kg formula racing cars.

1937
Introduction of the ATE tandem master cylinder for passenger cars, lorries and buses.

1948
After World War II, ATE resumes production at all of its plants. A new plant is opened in Gifhorn, underscoring the company's continued commitment to the development of hydraulic brake systems.

1954
ATE pump circulation brake boosters, installed in the legendary Mercedes Benz Silver Arrow, are the first hydraulic brake boosters to be used in car racing.

1958
ATE patents the negative scrub radius design principle for better directional stability in braking. In the same year ATE starts volume production of disk brakes in Germany.

1960
ATE starts production of disk brakes under licence from Dunlop at its Frankfurt plant.

1979
ATE fist-calliper disk brakes arrive on the scene in high-performance touring car racing. They are used in the Group 4 version of the BMW M1.

1984
Series launch of the world's first integrated ABS. The ATE ABS MK II is used by Ford USA and Ford Europe. In the next two years 250,000 systems are produced.

1996
ATE presents the PowerDisc at AutoMechanika. Because this brake disk wears evenly and is free of scoring, it minimises fading and has a longer service life. Another innovation is DuoTec, a two-component wiper blade element.

1998
Sale of the Brake and Chassis Group of ITT Industries to Continental AG. Founding of Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG.

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