Continental Tires India Gets A New MD: Her Name Is Nevin Aslan-Özkan
German tyre giant Continental AG has announced a key leadership change for its India operations, signalling fresh intent in one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive markets. The company has appointed Nevin Aslan-Özkan as the new Managing Director of Continental Tires India, effective April 6, 2026.
She replaces Samir Gupta, who stepped down from the role on April 5, citing personal reasons. Gupta had been at the helm since January 2022 and played a crucial role in expanding Continental’s footprint in India, particularly in the premium tyre segment.
Nevin Aslan-Özkan is no stranger to the company. She joined Continental in 2017 and has held multiple leadership roles across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, primarily in strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and business development. More recently, she served as Chief Financial Officer for Continental Tires India since May 2025, where she oversaw the company’s financial strategy and performance.
Her elevation to Managing Director comes at a time when Continental is doubling down on India. The company has made it clear that the passenger vehicle tyre segment will be a key focus area going forward, especially as Indian consumers increasingly shift towards larger SUVs and premium cars.
In her first statement after taking charge, Nevin highlighted India as a “strong focus market” and reiterated Continental’s ‘In the Market, For the Market’ philosophy. In simple terms, this means developing products specifically tailored for Indian road conditions rather than adapting global offerings as-is.
This leadership transition also coincides with a broader expansion strategy. Continental recently announced an investment of EUR 10.5 million, roughly Rs 100 crore, into its India business. A significant chunk of this investment will go into strengthening its presence in the ultra ultra high performance (UUHP) tyre segment, which caters to premium and performance-oriented vehicles.
And that’s not all. The company has also been actively expanding its product portfolio. One of the biggest highlights is the launch of the CrossContact A/T² tyres, which made their India debut at the Track Day 2026 event. Interestingly, India became the first global market to get these tyres, underlining how important the country has become for Continental’s global strategy.
Continental’s CrossContact tyres are designed specifically for SUVs and 4x4 vehicles, a segment that is booming in India right now. The latest CrossContact A/T² tyres aim to strike a balance between on-road comfort and off-road capability.
They feature a more aggressive tread pattern for better grip on loose surfaces like gravel and mud, while still maintaining low road noise and good ride comfort on highways. Durability is another key focus, with reinforced sidewalls and improved cut-and-chip resistance, something that Indian road conditions demand.
In typical Continental fashion, safety and braking performance remain a priority. The CrossContact range is engineered to deliver shorter braking distances on both wet and dry surfaces, which is critical for heavy SUVs.
With SUVs now dominating car sales in India, tyre manufacturers are racing to offer more specialised products. Continental’s latest moves, both in terms of leadership and product strategy, clearly show that it wants a bigger slice of this growing pie.
With a new Managing Director at the helm and fresh investments flowing in, expect Continental Tires India to push harder in the premium and SUV tyre space over the next few years.