TURIN -- Open Air Systems (Oasys), a German-Italian joint venture, will supply the roof system for the new Ford Focus coupe cabriolet.
The contract is another success for the start-up company founded by Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina and German roof systems specialists Webasto in February 2002 to develop and produce convertible roof systems.
The Focus coupe cabriolet, which goes on sale in summer 2006, will be built in Italy by Pininfarina. It currently builds the StreetKa small roadster for Ford.
Oasys was launched to benefit from the growing trend among automakers to build convertibles in their own plants, but outsource roof systems to suppliers.
In the medium term, Oasys aims to capture at least 25 percent of the global convertible market niche and to achieve annual revenues of E300 million by 2006.
Oasys has won seven contracts for roof systems. The company is already making roof systems for the Daihatsu Copen and BMW's Mini cabriolet.
The Alfa Romeo Spider replacement, the new Ford Focus CC, the Volvo C70 replacement and the new VW convertible derived from the Concept C, will appear with Oasys roof systems between late 2005 and 2006.
Peugeot, with its 206 CC, was the first volume carmaker to build a convertible in its own plant, subcontracting the roof system to French coachbuilder Heuliez. For its 307 CC, Peugeot turned to Car Top System of Germany. CTS also supplies Ferrari, Maserati and Porsche.
Karmann, of Germany, supplies roof systems for the Renault Megane coupe cabriolet and the coming Nissan Micra CC roof system.
Karmann also supplies the canvas top for the VW New Beetle cabriolet built in Mexico.
Edscha, of Germany, supplies Audi the canvas roof systems for the TT and the A4 cabriolet.
