Pirelli Interested in Further Alliances.

Pirelli SpA, the world's sixth-largest tiremaker, is interested in further alliances after it signed an agreement with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. that is expected to double Pirelli's North American sales within three years and help it re-enter the original equipment market, the German daily

Tronchetti said he would also expand Pirelli's tire business through acquisitions if rival tire companies could be purchased at low prices similar to those in the cable industry, the paper reported.=

After announcing their alliance, Pirelli and Cooper said they'd like to expand into the Asian market where analysts said the companies would need further alliances or acquisitions to compete against the world's biggest tiremaker and Asian market leader, Bridgestone Corp.