OZ S.p.A., also known as OZ Group is an Italian company founded in 1971 that produces car and motorcycle wheels, specifically alloy wheels. They are an OEM supplier to a number of manufacturers in addition to aftermarket sales and are a prominent wheel supplier in motorsport.
History
The enterprise was founded in a filling station in Rossano Veneto near Venice in 1971 by Silvano Oselladore and Pietro Zen from whose initials the company takes its name.[1] OZ S.p.A. was officially established as a company in 1978 following an investment by Carto Isnardo SpA.[1] 1989 saw the company's first affiliate set up as OZ Japan began business.[1] In 1992 the company moved to a new factory in its current headquarters location of San Martino di Lupari.[1]
In 1999 OZ branched out into motorcycle wheel production in collaboration with Aprilia.[1]
Today the company produces alloy wheels for motorsports, aftermarket and OEM applications in addition to motorcycle wheels and custom items for specialist tuners and designers including Bertone, Pininfarina, AMG and Hartge.[1] OZ also produces wheels for Sparco in partnership with their compatriots. Their main competitor is BBS.
A second WRC championship victory this time with Peugeot in 2000 preceded a slew of victorious partnerships in 2001 as OZ became a premier motorsports wheel provider.[1] While Peugeot again won the constructor's title in WRC, OZ also supplied the Subaru World Rally Team as Richard Burns won the driver's championship. The year also saw OZ supplied teams winning the Indy 500 and Le Mans.[1]
