Continental reports net income of 68 million euros in the first quarter

Continental published its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, which were ‘significantly better’ that in the first quarter of last year. Net income in the first quarter was 68 million euros, after a loss of 53 million euros in Q1 2024.

“We made a solid start to the year, significantly improving our earnings for the Continental Group in the first quarter compared with 2024 and are confident that we will achieve our annual targets,” said Continental CEO Nikolai Setzer on Tuesday.

In the first quarter of 2025, Continental achieved consolidated sales of €9.7 billion (Q1 2024: €9.8 billion, -0.8 percent). Its adjusted operating result increased to €639 million, corresponding to an adjusted EBIT margin of 6.6 percent. 

In light of the planned spin-off, Continental’s outlook covers the continuing operations of the Tires and ContiTech group sectors. The Automotive group sector is reported separately as a discontinued operation. The forecasts for sales and adjusted EBIT margin for the individual Automotive, Tires and ContiTech group sectors remain unchanged.

Based on assumptions regarding business development as well as average exchange rates in the first quarter, Continental expects the following key figures.

For the continuing operations of Tires and ContiTech:

Continental expects consolidated sales in the range of around €19.5 billion to €21.0 billion and an adjusted EBIT margin of around 10.5 to 11.5 percent.

For the Tires group sector, Continental forecasts sales of around €13.5 billion to €14.5 billion and an adjusted EBIT margin of around 13.3 to 14.3 percent.

Continental anticipates sales in the ContiTech group sector of around €6.3 billion to €6.8 billion and an adjusted EBIT margin of around 6.0 to 7.0 percent.

Capital expenditure before financial investments is forecast to be around 6.0 percent of sales. 

Adjusted free cash flow is expected to be around €0.6 billion to €1.0 billion.

For the discontinued operations of the Automotive group sector, Continental expects sales of around €18.0 billion to €20.0 billion and an adjusted EBIT margin of around 2.5 to 4.0 percent, operationally unchanged and excluding the effects of IFRS 5.