Continental Tires India has appointed Nevin Aslan-Özkan as its new Managing Director, effective April 6, 2026. She succeeds Samir Gupta, who stepped down a day earlier for personal reasons, marking a leadership transition aligned with the company’s growth ambitions in India.
Nevin Aslan-Özkan brings a strong global background within Continental, having joined the organisation in 2017. Over the years, she has held key roles across mergers and acquisitions, strategy, and business development in both EMEA and APAC regions. Most recently, she served as Chief Financial Officer for Continental Tires India, where she played a critical role in shaping the company’s financial strategy and performance.
In her new role, she will lead Continental’s India operations with a focus on strengthening its position in the passenger vehicle segment. The appointment comes at a time when the Indian automotive market is witnessing evolving demand patterns, particularly a shift toward higher-performance vehicles and premium segments.
The leadership change also coincides with Continental’s ongoing investment and product expansion in India. The company has announced an investment of €10.5 million aimed at reinforcing its footprint in the passenger vehicle category, with a specific focus on the ultra high performance tyre segment. This investment reflects the growing demand for advanced tyre technologies as consumers increasingly opt for vehicles with higher performance capabilities.
As part of its product strategy, Continental Tires India recently introduced the CrossContact A/T² tyre, designed for SUV and 4×4 applications. Notably, India was chosen as the first market for this launch, underlining the country’s strategic importance within Continental’s global operations.
Nevin Aslan-Özkan highlighted that India remains a priority market for the company. She emphasised Continental’s commitment to its “in the market, for the market” approach, which focuses on developing products tailored to local driving conditions while leveraging global technology and expertise.
Her predecessor, Samir Gupta, who had been with Continental since 2012 and served as Managing Director since January 2022, played a key role in expanding the company’s presence in India and strengthening its market position.
Overall, the appointment signals Continental’s intent to align leadership with its long-term growth strategy. By combining fresh leadership with continued investment and product innovation, the company is positioning itself to capitalise on emerging opportunities in India’s dynamic automotive sector.
