Representatives mark the opening of a new self-repair and low noise-making tire project at the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone on Jan 8. [Photo from WeChat account hefeigaoxinfabu]

German tire expert Continental entered a new era of cooperation with Hefei, Anhui province, on Jan 8, setting up a self-repair and low noise-making tire project. 

Ferdinand Hoyos, chairman of Continental China, attended the opening ceremony. 

With a total investment of 140 million yuan ($21 million), the new project will house a 4,000-square-meter plant installed with a specialized production line designed to manufacture 600,000 self-repair and 400,000 low noise-making tires. 

It is estimated the plant will increase sales revenue by 590 million yuan, generating taxes of 47 million yuan. 

Continental first joined hands with Hefei city in September 2009, setting up a branch manufacturing base at the local Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. It was its first wholly foreign-owned establishment in China, covering an area of 67 hectares and targeting tire consumers in the Asian-Pacific region. The base generated an industrial output of 4.19 billion yuan in 2018.