An automotive battery manufacturer owned by Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. will join the tire maker's U.S. subsidiary in Clarksville, Tenn. AtlasBX Co. Ltd. will build a manufacturing plant there and plans to produce 2.4 million batteries a year.
The Clarksville plant is the battery company's first plant in North America. It will open around 2020, will employ 200 and will be located at 1325 International Blvd., off Interstate 24.
The plant will feature a dedicated production line for Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries, a high performance battery for start-stop vehicles. A second phase of construction is possible, depending on the success of the initial phase.
“The State of Tennessee is known for its intelligent, hard-working population,” says Ho Youl Pae, CEO of AtlasBX. “Clarksville’s thriving economy and skilled workforce appealed to our company and led to this decision, which we believe will allow our company to experience significant growth.”
AtlasBX was established in 1944, and was acquired by Hankook in 1977. The company was born as Isan Ltd., and changed its name to AtlasBX in 2004. The company operates two manufacturing plants in Korea, which is also where the global headquarters are located.
AtlasBX produces batteries for passenger cars, light trucks, electric vehicles, commercial vehicles, boats and recreational vehicles. The company makes more than 15 million batteries a year and has more than 300 customers globally. It makes batteries under its own brands, as well as for brands such as ACDelco. AtlasBX provides original equipment batteries for General Motors and Renault-Nissan Alliance.
AtlasBX established its AtlasBX America Corp. in Nashville, Tenn., in 2017.
Hankook opened its tire manufacturing plant in Clarksville in October 2017.
