Technology
company Continental has successfully completed the acquisition of Kathrein
Automotive GmbH after antitrust authorities officially approved the
transaction. Incorporating the automotive division of Rosenheim-based antenna
and satellite technology manufacturer Kathrein is a move that will give
Continental an important key segment to add to its wealth of expertise.
Intelligent vehicle antennas are the starting point for future-proof
connectivity concepts in the vehicle interior and beyond.
Potential
applications range from remote access keys and navigation applications through
to telematics solutions. A connected vehicle can contain over 22 installed
antennas. Backed by Kathrein Automotive’s expertise, Continental can offer a
broad portfolio ranging from rod antennas to the Intelligent Antenna Module.
The core functions of the Intelligent Antenna Module include the integration of
various V2X technologies, such as the global 5G Hybrid V2X solution, which
enables communication via the cellular network as well as rapid, reliable
direct data transfer. Continental recently won its first customer project for
this flexible 5G hybrid platform.
“I’m
absolutely delighted to have the entire workforce of Kathrein Automotive on
board. The more than 1,000 new colleagues we have gained are an invaluable pool
of experience and expertise in the field of vehicle connectivity,” said Johann
Hiebl, head of the Body & Security and Infotainment & Connectivity
business units at Continental. Acquiring Kathrein Automotive will allow
Continental to deepen the level of cooperation within its cross-divisional
R&D teams. “We will take immediate steps to work even harder on driving
forward the development of high-performance connectivity solutions for
intelligent mobility,” Hiebl said.
Continental
is incorporating all Kathrein Automotive employees and all eight locations in
Brazil, China, Germany, Mexico, Portugal and the U.S.. The two parties have
agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
Continental’s
decision to acquire the specialist and manufacturer of vehicle transmitter and
receiver systems has put it in a prime position in the flourishing vehicle
antenna market. Forecasts by analysts such as Radiant Insights indicate that
this market will grow by around 6.5 percent per year between now and 2022. The
incorporation of Kathrein’s expertise also constitutes a systematic development
of what has so far proved to be a successful development partnership.
Continental
and Kathrein have already brought two connectivity solutions to market
together: the Intelligent Antenna Module and the multifunctional Smart Device
Terminal. The Intelligent Antenna Module replaces the single antennas that have
been scattered around vehicles by combining the antennas and the accompanying
electronics into one hardware module. This not only makes wiring more
straightforward and reduces installation space, but also improves signal
quality at the same time. Furthermore, the multifunctional Smart Device
Terminal allows drivers to seamlessly integrate their digital lifestyles into
their vehicles by easily and comprehensively connecting their mobile devices to
their vehicles.
The
pooling of development and manufacturing expertise is an unquestionable driving
force for innovation where Continental is concerned, particularly considering
the positive market performance for vehicle antennas. Johann Hiebl underscored
just how important the ongoing process of optimising and enhancing existing
solutions is. “We are not just sitting back and enjoying our success to date.
Quite the opposite, in fact, we are continuously developing the Intelligent
Antenna Module.”
Two
innovations that Continental recently unveiled at CES in Las Vegas were the
ultra-flat design and the much-improved performance of the latest Intelligent
Antenna Module generation. The technology’s new, space-saving design is based
on a method developed by Kathrein of integrating antenna structures into the
module’s printed circuit board. This method renders the previous shark fin
antenna design obsolete – a clear advantage when it comes to making the best
possible use of installation space. The latest version of the Intelligent
Antenna Module also scores points on the performance front. It is 5G-ready and
has a 4x4 multiple input/multiple output, enabling simultaneous data transfer
through multiple transmitter and receiver channels. This means that the module
is already delivering maximum data rates and ranges for all wireless services.
Source: Continental