Cooper wins first Ford OE in US

Cooper has secured its first US original equipment deal with Ford, which has selected the Cooper Zeon RS3-A as the standard fitment on its 2013 Ford Focus SE and Titanium models. Tire Review reports that the all-season UHP tyre will be supplied in W-rated size 215/50R17.

While this was not Cooper’s first foray into the OE market, chairman, CEO and president Roy Armes stated that: “This new relationship with Ford marks our company’s entry into the US passenger tyre OE tire market, a strategic decision aligned with our goal to drive profitable sales by diversifying product mix, expanding sales channels and leveraging technology.

“Cooper will remain primarily focused on the replacement tyre business where we’ve built a strong brand and enduring customer relationships. Our partnership with Ford provides another opportunity for growth and speaks to the increasing demand for our products as well as the value proposition we deliver.”