Cooper Tire Europe has appointed Mirco Spiniella as its new business development director. Spiniella will be responsible for the implementation of Cooper’s sales and marketing strategy, with a focus on business intelligence and key account management in the German, Swiss, Spanish and French markets. He will report to Sylvain Borré, general manager European Subsidiaries.
Cooper Tire Europe has launched its first full Arabic website, www.coopertire.me. The new site has extensive content including product pages, company information and a dealer locator. The company stated the site demonstrates its continued commitment to the region, coming shortly after Cooper Tire Europe announced that it will be the official tyre sponsor of this year’s Dubai International Motor Show.
The penultimate round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship – the last in Europe – takes place at the Franciacorta International Circuit this weekend, and both the 2015 World RX Drivers’ Championship and Teams’ Championships could be decided. Franciacorta, in northern Italy, will form the final round of this year’s FIA European Rallycross Championship (Euro RX), the Super1600 category plus the supporting RX Lites Cup. Cooper Tire is the exclusive tyre supplier for the series, and Paul Coates, general manager – motorsport, Cooper Tire Europe has explained the challenges for the drivers at the Franciacorta circuit.
Cooper Tire Europe has launched the Cooper Zeon CS8 – a high performance passenger car tyre, which ‘A’ grade wet grip and is also said to perform in terms of fuel efficiency and handling. Brand ambassador and Formula 1 driver, David Coulthard, evaluated the Cooper Zeon CS8 and provided feedback to Cooper’s product development team.
Cooper can lay claim to being a leading brand within the 4×4 tyre market, with one of the stronger ranges of any manufacturer. Its tyres are selected for many applications, with the world’s most gruelling off-road endurance event, the Dakar Rally, perhaps the most notable for the challenge it presents to rubber. Cooper tyres are utilised by rally legends such as Xavi Foj, whose team is supported by the brand; links such as this help the manufacturer to underline its presence within this segment. Foj used the Discoverer S/T Maxx to take a podium finish in Buenos Aires this January, in what was the Spanish driver’s 25th Dakar Rally.
Introduced for the upcoming winter season, Cooper Tire Europe’s WM winter van tyre is now available in a wide range of sizes. Sarah McRoberts, European marketing communications manager for Cooper, said, “With what could be an extreme winter for us in Britain, it is important to ensure that one of our flagship products is made available to as many van and car owners as possible, across the Cooper Tire WeatherMaster range.
Cooper Tire will be the official tyre sponsor of this year’s Dubai International Motor Show. Announced during a visit by the vice president and managing director of Cooper Tire, Europe and the Middle East, Jeff Schumaker, the sponsorship will mark the tyre brand’s first move to increase its presence across the Middle East ahead of a series of new product arrivals over the coming months. The manufacturer has a tangential connection to the region through Arsenal Football Club, for whom it is the Official Tyre; Arsenal’s shirt sponsor is Dubai-based airline, Emirates.
After passing the midway point of the season for the 2015 FIA World Rallycross Championship, tyre supplier Cooper says the competition is heating up in Hell, Norway, with just six rounds to go. A record number of 47 Supercars will be on the grid in Norway, accompanied by 12 RX Lites competitors, all running on Cooper’s rallycross tyres which are specifically designed for the very unique demands of rallycross – a fusion of gravel and asphalt racing.
According to local media reports, Cooper Tire & Rubber will invest US$1.89 million in new equipment for its Tupelo tyre factory in the USA. The investment covers the purchase and installation of a new automatic compounder, along with a 1,300 square metre (14,000 square foot) extension of the facility in order to house the new equipment.
Cooper Tire & Rubber blames the absence of Cooper Chengshan Tire (CCT) from the company’s books for the 15.4 per cent year-on-year drop in sales experienced during the second quarter of 2015. Excluding the impact of CCT, Cooper Tire & Rubber’s second quarter 2015 sales rose five per cent year-on-year as a result of $64 million worth of higher unit volume gained both in the Americas and International business units.
The third annual Cooper Tire & Rubber corporate social responsibility and sustainability report was published today. This year’s document is titled ‘Responsibility the Cooper Way’.
Cooper Tire & Rubber has shared news of its work with tyre dealers in China to elevate Cooper brand awareness amongst consumers, including the many first-time car buyers in this enormous market. The tyre maker says that over the past eight months it has collaborated with dealers to introduce a new retail concept. So far this has led to the opening of four Cooper ‘Superfeel Centers’ in China. The first of these outlets opened in Shanghai in November 2014, and this was followed by centres in Shandong (January 2015), Beijing (March 2015) and Chengdu (July 2015). These four sites will be joined by two more Superfeel Centers, in Baoding and Inner Mongolia, by the end of this year.
Cooper Tire Europe reports the introduction of a new line – the WM-SA2+ – into its winter tyre portfolio and the addition of 25 new sizes to its existing Weathermaster WSC SUV/4×4 range.
The US District Court in Delaware has dismissed the class action against Cooper Tire & Rubber that followed the unsuccessful Apollo Tyres acquisition attempt. The lawsuit, which was filed in January 2014, alleged the tyre maker, along with CEO Roy Armes and CFO Bradley Hughes, violated US federal securities laws by misrepresenting its financial condition, financial prospects, and the effectiveness of its internal controls. The action was filed by law firms Entwistle & Cappucci LLP and Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP on behalf of Cooper Tire investors OFI Risk Arbitrages, OFI Risk Arb Absolu and Timber Hill L.L.C.
The popular FIA World Rallycross Championship and RX Lites series, both racing on Cooper tyres, return to Sweden this weekend, in Höljes on 3-5 July. Previewing one of the most demanding rallycross circuits in Europe, Paul Coates, general manager – motorsport, Cooper Tire Europe, said: “The Swedish round at Höljes places some extreme forces on the tyres, with a sixth gear straight and quick changes from gravel to asphalt, plus the jumps.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.