Cooper will focus on HP, UHP this year

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. plans to substantially boost its high performance and ultra-high performance tyre market share in 2004, Cooper Chairman, CEO and President Tom Dattilo told analysts. The 2003 figure of 2 per cent market share is a half per cent ahead of 2002 and the company is said to be selling out of its Zeon UHP product.

Meeting demand will depend upon increased reliance on Asian partners, but a 32 million dollar investment in the three USA plants will also contribute to meeting demand. Sales for the last quarter were a record 967 million dollars and tyre Group sales were up 6 per cent on the previous year. .