Continental launches new tires specifically for autonomous vehicle fleets and robotaxis

Continental has rolled out an original equipment tire line for use on driverless vehicles. The aContact tire family combines specially developed tire technologies that meet the varying requirements and areas of application of autonomous vehicle fleets. The tires are suited to robotaxis, shuttle vehicles, autonomous delivery services and, in the future, self-driving private cars. Continental’s aContact tires will soon be hitting public roads for the first time in US cities such as Las Vegas and San Francisco. 

“Self-driving robotaxis will soon be part of our everyday mobility – alongside traditional cars, cargo bikes and e-scooters,” says Meletis Xigakis, Head of Research and Development for the original equipment business at Continental Tires. “To ensure maximum efficiency, it is crucial they are equipped with tires made specifically for the job. That is where our aContact product line comes in, combining technologies that have been adapted and customized for the ordering manufacturer or mobility provider – promoting safety and optimizing performance and efficiency.”

Tire development has entered a new era with partially automated and autonomous driving. When vehicles are steered by AI-powered algorithms rather than humans, this alters the way they behave on the road. Self-steering cars, for example, usually drive at lower speeds and under strictly controlled conditions. For that reason, tires fitted to robotaxis often need to operate for extended periods of time. 

In major automotive markets like China and North America, autonomous driving is already a reality. In Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Beijing, as well as US cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, robotaxis are already a familiar sight. Many manufacturers ranging from agile start-ups to established carmakers are hard at work developing technologies for emerging robotaxi fleets.