Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new United States plant based in Clarksville, Tenn. The Tennessee plant is Hankook Tire’s eighth global production base and its first U.S.-based facility.
Present at the groundbreaking celebration were Tennessee Governor, Bill Haslam, local and state officials and media representatives.
Expected to begin operation in 2016, the plant will have a production capacity of 12 million tires, mostly for regional supplies in the North American market. This will enable for a more efficient tire distribution in the market and will open more opportunities to strengthen the business engagement with the U.S.-based automakers for original equipment tire supplies, the company said. Also, the additional production capacity from this plant will increase Hankook’s annual global production to over 100 million tires.
“Today marks an important milestone in our 73-year history as a tire maker,” said Seung Hwa Suh, vice chairman and CEO of Hankook Tire. “The new Tennessee plant will be a pivotal instrument to accommodate our growing business in the United States and also to propel a well-balanced global production portfolio.
“Combined with our advanced technological capability, the newest plant will create premium value and solidify our presence as a top-tier player in the global tire industry.”
Building on an aggregated land area of 469 acres, Hankook Tire will invest $800 million for the construction of this new plant. The new plant will be equipped with state-of-the-art tire production facilities and will create approximately 1,800 full-time jobs in the region.
“We want to congratulate Hankook Tire on breaking ground on its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Montgomery County,” Haslam said. “Hankook’s announcement has not only made a major impact on Tennessee’s automotive sector, but will also boost the Clarksville-area workforce as we continue our work to make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high-quality jobs.”
Over the past decades, Hankook Tire has been cumulatively investing in the United States by establishing its American Regional Headquarters in 1981 and its Akron Technical Center in 1992. The announcement for the Tennessee Plant was made in October 2013 in conjunction with the State of Tennessee. Tennessee has been chosen as the ideal location for the company’s newest plant, providing an extensive transportation infrastructure.
For more information, visit Hankook Tire’s global website at www.hankooktire.com.