Continental to build highly automated warehouse in Mount Vernon, Illinois, USA

Continental has announced the construction of a new highly automated finished-goods warehouse in Mount Vernon, Illinois. The company plans to invest approximately $76 million in the project. The facility is designed to mainly serve growing demand in North America, while enhancing service levels and customer support. Covering an area larger than six American football fields, the warehouse will have capacity for approximately 500,000 passenger car tires. Construction is expected to start in summer 2026, with operations scheduled to begin in 2027.

“Our new highly automated finished-goods warehouse underscores our growth ambitions in North America,” says Tansu Işık, CEO of Continental Tires Americas. “The new facility will enhance our ability to serve customers with greater speed and flexibility while strengthening our overall distribution network in the region.”

“This investment is a strong signal for the future of our Mount Vernon plant,” says Nik Pearce, plant manager of Continental’s Mount Vernon tire plant. “It enhances our capabilities, further modernizes our operations, and makes our plant logistics more efficient. At the same time, it strengthens our operations at local level and creates new development opportunities for our employees.”

The Mount Vernon site is Continental’s largest tire plant in the United States and an important part of its Americas production and supply network. Tires have been manufactured at the Mount Vernon plant for over 50 years. First opened in 1974, Continental acquired the facility in 1987 and today produces tires for passenger cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles. The plant facility spans over 320,000 square meters and its total production capacity amounts to approximately 11.4 million tires per year. Today, more than 3,500 employees work at the location.

Continental continues to invest in the digitalization and automation of its global manufacturing operations across 19 tire plants in 16 countries. The focus lies on the development of new technologies, alternative materials, environmentally friendly production and continuous improvements in logistics efficiency.