Continental Earns 2013 Automotive News PACE Award for LocSync Tire Pressure Monitoring System

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. and DETROIT, April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Continental, a leading global automotive supplier, received the 2013 Automotive News PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers Contribution to Excellence) Award for its LocSync Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). 

Continental's tire pressure monitoring with LocSync software provides the driver with exact information about the individual tire pressures and alerts the driver, via in-dash display, of the precise location and specific details of a low pressure tire.  Its use of existing vehicle technology reduces weight, cost and keeps changing of TPMS-equipped tires an easy task for repair facilities. New tires and sensors are identified by the system automatically after just a few minutes of driving.  

"Winning the 2013 Automotive News PACE Award for LocSync is an honor and testament to the hard work of the Continental team and worldwide acceptance of this unique solution by our customers," said Michael Crane, head of Continental's North American Body & Security business unit.  "LocSync is the comfortable way to have detailed tire information available with an automatic wheel set management where the system is localizing the different tires individually: an intelligent product that works with existing technology to offer enhanced functionality."

The innovative technology combines Continental's tire pressure monitoring expertise with wheel speed sensor information from existing stability control systems or anti-lock braking systems in vehicles.  LocSync is currently in production on three current production vehicles, with more being released later this year.

LocSync technology is easily implemented across multiple vehicle platforms.  Because it is a proven technology that is compatible with existing architecture, LocSync eliminates the needs for customer-specific tooling or process change, thereby reducing OEM implementation time. 

It also provides environmental benefits and increases driver safety.  Individual pressure displays help reduce fuel consumption and carbon footprint, as well as longer tire life and better vehicle handling for the driver. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that if tires are under inflated by 25 percent or more, they are three times more likely to be cited as critical to events in the pre-crash phase. LocSync helps to resolve this issue by providing driver feedback and notification regarding the inflation of tires and their corresponding location in the vehicle. 

The Automotive News PACE Awards are judged independently and announced annually.  This year's PACE Award ceremony was held at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit Monday evening.

With sales of €32.7 billion in 2012, Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier 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 has approximately 170,000 employees in 46 countries.

SOURCE Continental Automotive