TELE Atlas, a global provider of digital maps, is extending its European coverage eastwards. More than 20 central and east European countries will be put in the Tele Atlas digital map database during 2005, taking the total European coverage to 40 countries.

Jack Reinelt, Tele Atlas chief operating office, Europe, said: 'Based on our positive experience in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Greece, we decided to move much further and faster.' During 2005, new countries added will include Hungary and the Slovak Republic, Russia, Turkey the Baltic States, Slovenia and Croatia.

Towards the end of the year, the firm will add Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia & Montenegro, Belarus, Moldavia, Ukraine, Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Continental sees big sales growth Continental AG, the international tyre supplier, saw sales grow 8.6% for the first nine months of this year from E8.48bn to E9.21bn.

Continental executive board chairman Manfred Wennemer said: 'Once again, our figures demonstrate that we are continuing on the road to success despite partly unfavourable conditions such as the sluggish global automotive economy.'

Before foreign exchange effects, sales of the passenger and light truck tyres (PLT) division were up 7.7% for the first nine months of 2004.

Including exchange rate effects, sales improved by 5.1% from E2.8 bn to E2.96 bn.

By September this year, the firm employed 73,186 people, up 4,357 year-on-year.