05/08/2026
HFE is proud to provide the Geotechnical services for this large project and the many others associated with Continental Tire.
: One of Southern Illinois’ largest employers is planning a major expansion.
German tire manufacturer Continental announced Friday it plans to invest approximately $76 million into a new highly automated finished-goods warehouse at its Mount Vernon plant.
According to the company, the facility will primarily support growing demand across North America while improving distribution and customer service operations. The warehouse is expected to hold roughly 500,000 passenger vehicle tires and cover an area larger than six football fields.
Construction is scheduled to begin during the summer of 2026, with the facility expected to become operational in 2027.
“Our new highly automated finished-goods warehouse underscores our growth ambitions in North America,” said Tansu Işık, CEO of Continental Tires the 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.”
Plant Manager Nik Pearce said the investment is another sign of the company’s long-term commitment to Mount Vernon and its workforce.
“This investment is a strong signal for the future of our Mount Vernon plant,” Pearce said. “It enhances our capabilities, further modernizes our operations, and makes our plant logistics more efficient.”
The Mount Vernon facility has been operating for more than 50 years and is Continental’s largest tire plant in the United States. The company says more than 3,500 employees currently work at the site, which produces tires for passenger cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles.
Continental acquired the Mount Vernon facility in 1987. Today, the plant produces approximately 11.4 million tires annually as part of the company’s Americas production and supply network.
