Company Description
Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CPS), commonly referred to as Cooper Standard, is a global manufacturing company focused on sealing systems and fluid handling systems and components for transportation and industrial markets. According to company disclosures, it is headquartered in Northville, Michigan and operates with locations in 20 countries, supplying engineered products to diverse customers across the mobility and industrial landscape.
Cooper Standard is described as a leading global supplier of sealing and fluid handling systems and components. Its activities align with the motor vehicle manufacturing ecosystem, where sealing systems help manage noise, vibration, harshness, and environmental separation around vehicle openings, while fluid handling systems support the transfer and management of fluids such as fuel, brake fluid and other vehicle-related liquids. The company’s products and technologies are used across transportation platforms and in a range of industrial applications.
Business segments and product focus
Based on public information and prior descriptions, Cooper Standard operates through two primary reportable segments:
- Sealing Systems – This segment focuses on sealing products used in vehicle bodies and other structures. These systems are designed for passenger vehicles and light trucks produced by automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as well as for replacement markets.
- Fluid Handling Systems – This segment includes fuel and brake delivery systems and fluid transfer systems. These products are designed to manage and route fluids within vehicles and other equipment, supporting performance, safety and reliability requirements.
The company notes that it applies its materials science, process engineering and manufacturing expertise to develop engineered solutions. Its Industrial & Specialty Group (ISG) is a dedicated team within Cooper Standard responsible for maximizing the value of the company’s products and technologies in non-automotive and specialty markets. ISG focuses on applying OEM-grade technology to markets that require cost-effective and high-quality products.
Global footprint and markets served
Cooper Standard reports that it has locations in 20 countries, reflecting a broad international footprint. Earlier descriptions indicate that its geographic regions include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and South America. Through this network, the company serves automotive OEMs and other customers in transportation and industrial sectors. Its Industrial & Specialty Group highlights applications in areas such as transportation, window and door, HVAC, powersports, commercial vehicles, construction, industrial equipment and agriculture, demonstrating how its core technologies extend beyond passenger vehicles.
The company’s products are designed for passenger vehicles and light trucks manufactured by automotive OEMs and for replacement markets. Public communications also emphasize growing exposure to hybrid and battery electric vehicle platforms, where Cooper Standard reports receiving net new business awards related to these vehicle types. This reflects the use of its sealing and fluid handling systems in evolving vehicle architectures, including electrified powertrains and advanced cooling systems.
Technology, innovation and materials science
Cooper Standard repeatedly highlights its materials science capabilities and manufacturing expertise as core strengths. The company states that it creates innovative and sustainable engineered solutions for transportation and industrial markets, with an emphasis on engineered plastics, elastomers and related materials.
Examples from recent disclosures illustrate the company’s innovation focus:
- A quick connector with integrated temperature sensor for a General Motors electric vehicle, recognized as a finalist in the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Automotive Innovation Awards. This design integrates a coolant temperature sensor directly into a plastic quick connector, reducing part count and potential leak paths while improving assembly efficiency and packaging in a constrained powertrain environment.
- The integrated temperature sensor is described as providing precise, real-time monitoring of coolant system conditions and is designed for seamless integration into fluid connectors and tubing, eliminating the need for separate in-line components.
- In sealing, Cooper Standard has highlighted its FlexiCore™ thermoplastic body seal and FlushSeal™ sealing system in collaboration with Renault Group on the Emblème demo car. The FlexiCore thermoplastic body seal supports a transition from traditional rubber-plus-metal designs to thermoplastic solutions that can reduce CO2 emissions associated with production and enable recyclability. FlushSeal supports styling trends such as flush glass or flush glazing and is described as lightweight and easy to install.
These examples show how Cooper Standard applies its materials and process expertise to address vehicle performance, sustainability and design requirements, including lighter-weight structures, improved aerodynamics and advanced thermal management.
Diversification beyond passenger vehicles
Through its Industrial & Specialty Group, Cooper Standard is actively extending its technologies into non-automotive and specialty markets. The ISG team is described as leveraging the company’s investments in technology and innovation to bring OEM-level quality to other industries. Public materials indicate that ISG develops customized solutions that help customers improve performance and efficiency in applications such as transportation, window and door, HVAC, powersports, commercial vehicles, construction, industrial equipment and agriculture.
This diversification strategy is based on reusing proven sealing and fluid handling technologies, along with process engineering know-how, to serve markets that value durability, performance and cost-effective manufacturing. The company has also been featured on business-to-business media platforms, where ISG’s approach to applying materials science and manufacturing capabilities across industries has been highlighted.
Corporate responsibility and recognition
Cooper Standard has been recognized multiple times on Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies. The company reports that it has earned this recognition for several consecutive years in the Automotive & Components category, underscoring its focus on environmental stewardship, social responsibility and corporate governance. The ranking is based on quantitative data from numerous key performance indicators and on corporate social responsibility reputation research.
The company publishes a corporate responsibility report that discusses sustainability targets, initiatives and broader aspirations. Public statements emphasize its commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and to driving sustainable progress across operations, partnerships and products.
Organization, workforce and expertise
Cooper Standard reports that it has approximately 22,000 team members, including contingent workers, across its global operations. The company emphasizes that these team members are central to its performance and to improvements in both its business and the communities where it operates.
Within its organization, Cooper Standard has also highlighted roles focused on information technology and artificial intelligence (AI). The company has appointed a senior executive to lead its AI strategy and oversee the information technology function, with responsibility for accelerating progress and realizing the potential of AI across the enterprise. Public statements indicate that Cooper Standard views AI as a way to optimize its business and to deliver new solutions more quickly.
Financial reporting and investor communications
Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. files periodic reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including quarterly earnings releases furnished on Form 8-K. These filings provide details on sales, operating income, net income or loss, adjusted net income or loss, adjusted EBITDA, cash flow and liquidity, and segment performance for Sealing Systems and Fluid Handling Systems.
The company hosts regular conference calls and webcasts to discuss quarterly results, provide business updates and respond to investor questions. It also participates in industry and investor conferences, where management presents on the company’s business and strategies. Non-GAAP measures such as adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income are reconciled to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures in supplemental schedules attached to its earnings releases.
Cooper Standard’s public communications discuss factors that may affect its performance, including light vehicle production volumes in key regions, trade and tariff policies, supply chain conditions, inflation, and demand for hybrid and battery electric vehicles. The company also discloses information about new business awards, including anticipated future annualized sales associated with awards on electrified vehicle platforms.
Risk management and capital structure
In addition to earnings-related disclosures, Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. has filed Form 8-K reports describing material agreements and capital structure protections. For example, it has entered into a Section 382 Rights Agreement and later amended that agreement to extend the final expiration date of the rights. This type of agreement is intended to help manage certain tax-related attributes by discouraging ownership changes that could affect tax benefits. The company’s board of directors has stated that extending the rights agreement was in the best interests of the company and its stockholders.
The company also provides information about its liquidity, including cash and cash equivalents and availability under its asset-based revolving credit facility. Public statements indicate that, based on expectations for light vehicle production and customer demand, Cooper Standard believes it has sufficient financial resources to support ongoing operations and the execution of its plans, referencing cash on hand, access to credit facilities and expected cash generation.
Position within the automotive and industrial supply chain
Cooper Standard operates within the broader automotive and industrial supply chain as a supplier of engineered sealing and fluid handling systems. Its customers include automotive OEMs that integrate these systems into passenger vehicles and light trucks, as well as customers in non-automotive markets served through its Industrial & Specialty Group. The company’s focus on materials science, process engineering and manufacturing efficiency is reflected in its emphasis on cost-effective, high-quality products that support vehicle and equipment performance, sustainability and design requirements.
Public communications also highlight the company’s efforts to win new business awards and to align its product portfolio with trends in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. Its innovations in thermoplastic sealing and integrated fluid connectors illustrate how it adapts its technologies to changing vehicle architectures and regulatory expectations.
FAQs about Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (CPS)
- What does Cooper Standard do?
Cooper Standard is a global supplier of sealing systems and fluid handling systems and components for transportation and industrial markets. Its products are designed for passenger vehicles, light trucks and various non-automotive applications, focusing on managing fluids and sealing openings in vehicles and equipment. - Where is Cooper Standard headquartered?
The company states that it is headquartered in Northville, Michigan, and has locations in 20 countries. - What are Cooper Standard’s main business segments?
Cooper Standard reports two primary segments: Sealing Systems, which provides sealing products for vehicle bodies and other structures, and Fluid Handling Systems, which includes fuel and brake delivery systems and fluid transfer systems. - Which markets does Cooper Standard serve beyond passenger vehicles?
Through its Industrial & Specialty Group, Cooper Standard applies its technologies to non-automotive and specialty markets, including transportation, window and door, HVAC, powersports, commercial vehicles, construction, industrial equipment and agriculture. - How is Cooper Standard involved in hybrid and electric vehicles?
The company reports receiving new business awards primarily related to battery-electric and hybrid vehicle platforms. It also highlights innovations such as a quick connector with integrated temperature sensor used on an electric vehicle and advanced sealing systems used on a demo car focused on reducing CO2 emissions. - What is the Industrial & Specialty Group (ISG)?
ISG is a dedicated team within Cooper Standard responsible for accelerating growth in non-automotive and specialty markets. It leverages the company’s investments in technology and innovation to bring OEM-quality sealing and fluid handling solutions to other industries. - How does Cooper Standard describe its approach to sustainability?
Cooper Standard points to its recognition on Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies and publishes a corporate responsibility report that discusses sustainability targets, initiatives and broader aspirations. It emphasizes environmental stewardship, social responsibility and corporate governance. - On which stock exchange does Cooper Standard trade and what is its ticker symbol?
Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol CPS. - How does Cooper Standard communicate financial results to investors?
The company furnishes earnings press releases on Form 8-K, holds conference calls and webcasts to discuss quarterly results, and participates in investor conferences. It provides segment-level results and uses non-GAAP measures such as adjusted EBITDA, with reconciliations to GAAP measures in its supplemental schedules. - What is the Section 382 Rights Agreement mentioned in Cooper Standard’s filings?
Cooper Standard has disclosed a Section 382 Rights Agreement and a subsequent amendment extending its expiration date. The board of directors has stated that extending the agreement is in the best interests of the company and its stockholders. The agreement is related to managing certain rights associated with the company’s capital structure and tax attributes.