Vehicle connectivity: Continental acquires automotive division from Kathrein

The technology company Continental is acquiring Kathrein Automotive GmbH (a subsidiary of Kathrein SE), one of the leading specialists in and manufacturers of vehicle antennas.

The company announced that the purchase agreement has been signed and that, following antitrust approval, Kathrein Automotive and its entire workforce are expected to become part of Continental in the first quarter of 2019. Kathrein Automotive has over 1,000 employees in a total of eight locations in Brazil, China, Germany, Mexico, Portugal, and the USA. The two parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

From remote access keys, to navigation, to telematics, there are a vast number of interfaces for wireless communication both in vehicles and beyond. Thus, today’s vehicles are already equipped with 20 antennas and counting. Advancing holistic vehicle connectivity and new communication technologies, such as 5G, will further increase demand for high-performance intelligent antenna solutions.

Analysts estimate an average annual market growth of approximately 6.5 percent for vehicle antennas up to 2022.