Cooper Tire Europe has confirmed that it will proceed with its plan to end light vehicle tyre production at its facility in Melksham, Wiltshire. The company’s latest statement follows the conclusion of its collective consultation process with employee representatives, which began in October 2018.
Cooper Tire Europe is to enter a 10 month consultation period to decide the future of light vehicle tyre production at its Melksham, Wiltshire facility. News sources suggest that light vehicle tyre production currently in Melksham would be shifted to its factory in Serbia, pending the outcome of the consultation. The company states that the proposed change is a result of the “cost-competitive, globalised environment.” It adds that the Melksham facility “in its present form is not competitive within the Cooper global manufacturing network or the tyre industry at large.” It is Cooper Tire Europe’s highest cost production facility, and the company adds that it considers expanding or updating the facility to meet its light vehicle tyre needs to be “not economically feasible.”
A brand new all-season tyre for SUVs and light duty pick-ups – the Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S – has joined Cooper Tire Europe’s range for cold weather conditions.
Cooper Tire Europe has reported on what it says was a successful The Tire Cologne trade fair, an event that saw the Cooper and Avon brands drawing large numbers of visitors to the stand. The Cologne show proved, the tyre maker adds, “an excellent venue” for the global launch of its new Discoverer AT3 line.
In addition to serving as title sponsor to the World RX of Great Britain and supplying tyres to all World RX teams, Cooper Tire Europe has been confirmed as presenting sponsor to the RX2 International Series. This is the second consecutive year the tyre maker has acted in this capacity.
Football skills from a leading Premier League team? Yawn – seen it. But Cooper Tire Europe has served us something new and different, a footballer-dog combination. It paired the talents of Arsenal FC players with a trio of clever canines and filmed the results for our entertainment.
For the fifth consecutive season, Cooper Tire Europe is the official tyre supplier and associate partner to the FIA World Rallycross Championship, supplying bespoke World RX tyres to all teams.
Jaap van Wessum has been appointed general manager – Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Ltd. Van Wessum, who joined Cooper in 2016 as director of sales for Europe, is now responsible for growing the broader EMEA business. He is based at Cooper Europe’s headquarters in Melksham, Wiltshire, and is part of the international management team of Luis Ceneviz, Cooper’s senior vice president & managing director – EMEA and Managing Director – Latin America.
Cooper Tire Europe will have its full range of products on display at this year’s Tire Cologne exhibition, showcasing its expertise in everything from SUV product to motorsport rubber.
Exciting and fresh are two words Cooper Tire Europe uses to describe its new website for the UK market. The coopertire.co.uk site is now live and in the coming months will be joined by others – Cooper Tire Europe says it is working on further language options to cater for its European, Middle Eastern and African markets.
Cooper Tire Europe is showing its SUV and 4×4 product range at this year’s Geneva Motor Show (8-18 March), exhibiting alongside bespoke 4×4 design firm the Chelsea Truck Company at stand 1141.
A new Cooper summer tyre line for small to mid-size cars has been unveiled. Called the Cooper CS7, the new tyre is the successor to the 2010-launched CS2 range. Cooper Tire Europe says the latest-generation product is quieter than its predecessor and has “been developed to incorporate technological features that make driving both enjoyable and economical.”
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Ltd. has appointed Michael Lutz as general manager for the German, Swiss and Austrian region (DACH). He is based at Cooper’s sales office in Dreieich, Germany and will report to Jaap van Wessum, sales director – Europe Tire Operations.
Cooper Tire Europe views 2017 as a “bumper year” for it in the world of motorsport, with growth in the Cooper brand’s global involvement in rallycross, particularly from a feeder series perspective, and Avon Tyres’ recent support of six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy with a 60-Second Donut Challenge in a Caterham Seven.
Cooper Tire Europe is partnering with tyre distributor and retailer Arabian Tires to expand the brand’s presence in the Middle East. Cooper currently offers a broad range of 4×4 tyres in Saudi Arabia.
