Conti had not commented publicly on the matter until now. Capacity there stands at 8 million units a year, according to Conti data. Among products built there are Conti's "SSR" (self-supporting) run-flat tires. "The discontinuation of tire production in Aachen is a painful step for our affected employees," according to Philipp von Hirschheydt, head of passenger and truck replacement tires business in Europe, Middle East and Africa. "This was no easy decision for us. However, we do not see a trend reversal in the capacity utilization in the next five to 10 years and anticipate unused capacity of around 15 million tires in Europe in the long term if we do not act now." Only by consistently reducing structural overcapacities will Conti be able to succeed in remaining competitive in the long term in the highly competitive tire market, he added. For several years, overcapacities have led to "enormous financial burdens" that Conti said are reducing its long-term competitiveness "substantially."