Date
18 March 2026
Continental Opens New China Distribution Center in Changshu
- New distribution center phase I footprint of about 2,500 m² to focus initially on assembly, warehousing and distribution of automotive aftermarket products
- Strengthening supply chain resilience across China and the broader Asia-Pacific region
- Modern warehousing infrastructure and digitalized management systems to further enhance customer service efficiency
Changshu, March 18, 2026. Continental’s group sector ContiTech today inaugurated its new China Distribution Center in Changshu, Jiangsu Province. Covering approximately 2,500 square meters, the facility will initially focus on the assembly, warehousing and distribution of automotive aftermarket products. The launch of the center marks an important step in strengthening ContiTech’s supply chain footprint in China, enhancing operational efficiency and service performance while reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to the Chinese market. The inauguration coincided with the ContiTech China Aftermarket 2026 Distributor Conference, where more than 40 distribution partners gathered to celebrate this significant milestone.
Strengthening Supply Chain Resilience Across Asia-Pacific
As a key outcome of ContiTech’s continued investment in its distribution business, the new distribution center will serve as an essential hub linking ContiTech with distributors and aftermarket partners, supporting the stable growth of its aftermarket operations in China. In addition, the center is equipped to supply selected products to Japan, Korea and Southeast Asian markets, further enhancing the efficiency and coordination of ContiTech’s Asia-Pacific distribution operations. Vincent Sambo, Head of Distribution, ContiTech Industrial Solutions APAC, stated: “China is not only ContiTech’s largest single market in Asia Pacific but also a critical growth engine within our regional supply chain. The launch of the Changshu Distribution Center represents another important milestone in our continued investments and capability enhancement in China. With its strategic location and advanced digital management systems, the center will enable faster response times and more reliable supply to customers in China and neighboring markets, further reinforcing the resilience and efficiency of our Asia-Pacific supply chain.”
Customer-Centric Approach: Building a Modern Warehousing and Fulfillment System
The decision to locate the facility in Changshu was based on a comprehensive evaluation of delivery lead times, network coverage and operational efficiency. Benefiting from Suzhou and the Yangtze River Delta’s extensive transportation network, delivery times to major regions can generally be reduced by up to 24 hours compared with previous routes.
The center operates in collaboration with a professional third-party logistics provider and incorporates next-generation storage design and workflow planning to optimize the entire process—from inbound receiving and inventory management to picking and outbound distribution. Equipped with SAP S/4HANA, EDI connectivity and barcode-based inbound/outbound operations, the center enhances inventory accuracy and order processing efficiency, while enabling full visibility and traceability throughout the logistics flow. These improvements ensure more reliable parts availability and more transparent logistics information for distribution partners and customers. Frank Zhao, Head of Distribution China, ContiTech Industrial Solutions APAC, commented: “We remain firmly customer-centric. With higher inventory availability, shorter delivery cycles and more transparent logistics information, we will work closely with our distribution partners to further improve service efficiency and market responsiveness, creating more direct value for end customers. As our business continues to expand, we will also evaluate extending the role of the Changshu Distribution Center to support industrial distribution operations, enabling us to provide efficient and reliable supply capabilities to an even broader range of industries.”
Partnering for High-Quality Industry Development
From localization of the supply chain to digital transformation, ContiTech continues to make long term, systematic investments to advance its business in China and across the Asia-Pacific region. The launch of the Changshu Distribution Center further strengthens the company’s service capabilities in both the automotive aftermarket and industrial sectors. Looking ahead, ContiTech will continue to collaborate closely with its partners—through innovation, coordination and sustainable investment—to support the high-quality development of the industries.
