3 Apr 2006
Shanghai, China -- Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. will introduce the Cooper brand to the Chinese market early in 2007. The announcement was made at Cooper Tire's "Pit Stop China" press conference in conjunction with Sunday's A1 Grand Prix race in Shanghai. Cooper Tire is the official tyre for the A1 Grand Prix.
Thomas Dattilo, chairman, president and ceo of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company said, "We are excited to introduce our brand into the Chinese market. We have great respect and high expectations for China and this country will be very important to our future plans."
Dattilo said Cooper is busy designing a complete line of Cooper brand tires designed especially for the Chinese market. The lines will be tested in a few markets during 2006 with a full launch in early 2007.
Cooper Tire recently acquired majority ownership of Shandong Chengshan Tire Company, China's third largest domestic producer. With technology support from Cooper's technical centres around the world, this facility will produce premium Cooper-branded tyres for the Chinese market. Cooper also has a plant under construction as part of a joint venture with Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. That plant is located in Jiangsu Province. Production is expected to begin in the third quarter 2006 with annual capacity of 10-12 million radial passenger and light truck tyres for export to Cooper customers in North America and Europe.
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Press release from Cooper
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