Cooper Drops Avon From UK Company Name

From the 1 January 2006 Cooper-Avon Tyres Ltd, will be known as Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Ltd. The news follows the launch of a new international corporate image at the SEMA show in November and is seen as an effort to unify the company’s global operations.

While the move is clearly linked to the company’s efforts to enhance the global recognition of its Cooper brand, this will not be at the expense of the Avon brand, according to Cooper.

Currently both Cooper and Avon brand tyres are manufactured in the company’s Melksham UK plant. The name change, however, will have no effect on the company’s plans to sell or market Avon tyres, communications manager, Sarah McRoberts told Tyres & Accessories.

“We are operating increasingly in a global market and we need to reflect this with the name and branding in our operations throughout Europe,” said Cooper’s vice president of European operations, Ron Shield.

“Our new logo was designed to respect all the things Cooper has been associated with; reliability, consistency, (being) dependable and friendly. At the same time, we hope it incorporates values we’re working to become: contemporary, fresh, innovative and capable of competing in new and exciting markets.”

Motorsports play an important part in the Cooper’s international growth strategy. The company is the exclusive supplier of race tyres to FIA F3 and the main supplier to the Formula Ford series around the world. This year, Cooper added the A1 Grand Prix to its motorsport portfolio.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Ltd has seen continued growth of between 10 – 12 per cent since 2002. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is the world’s eighth largest tyre producer.

Cooper and Avon brand tyres are manufactured in the company’s Melksham, UK, production facility, as well as in North America and Asia. They are distributed in Europe through affiliate distribution companies in Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, and by independent distributors across the continent.