Continental Earns 2013 Toyota Supplier Diversity Award

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Continental, a leading international automotive supplier, was recognized with the Supplier Diversity Award from Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA) at its Annual Supplier Business Meeting (ABM) on March 11. Held at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, ABM brings together approximately 1,000 Toyota and supplier representatives from across North America.

TEMA's Supplier Diversity Awards are presented to companies who successfully implement diversity activities and exceed Toyota's minority sourcing targets. Continental was recognized specifically with Special Recognition of MBE Development.

"At Continental, we remain proud of our continued commitment to diversity," said Debra Martin, Director of Minority Business Development for Continental North America. "This recognition from Toyota demonstrates both a shared commitment to diversity initiatives and a global appreciation on how a diverse network of suppliers positively impacts results." This is the first time Continental has been recognized for MBE development. The company is a six time recipient of Toyota's Excellent Supplier Diversity Award.

Currently celebrating 18 years, ABM allows TEMA to discuss business objectives with direct and indirect suppliers in preparation for its upcoming fiscal year. Each year, TEMA recognizes suppliers who exceeded the company's expectations in several categories.

"Toyota works closely with each supplier partner to build our vehicles to the high-quality, safety and reliability standards our customers expect," said Robert Young, TEMA's purchasing vice president. "We are pleased to award those in our supply base who go above-and-beyond. This event emphasizes our mutual commitment with supplier partners to continuously improve to build 'always better cars' in North America."

In the U.S. alone, there are about 60,000 supplier jobs dedicated to Toyota across more than 30 states. In addition, Toyota collectively spent more than $32 billion on parts, goods and services last year in North America.

With sales of around €33.3 billion in 2013, Continental is one of the world's leading automotive suppliers. As a provider of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires, and technical elastomers, Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also an expert partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently employs around 178,000 people in 49 countries.

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Online Media Database: http://www.continental-mediacenter.com

SOURCE Continental