Hankook opens first U.S. manufacturing plant

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Hankook Tire America Corp. held a grand opening ceremony Oct. 17 for its first U.S. manufacturing facility, an $800 million plant in Clarksville that is expected to bring 1,800 jobs to Tennessee.

The plant, Hankook's eighth facility worldwide, is projected to produce 5.5 million units annually in its first phase. The plant will enable Hankook to provide American tire dealers and consumers more efficiently with products and services while supporting existing and future OE partners, the company said.

The grand-opening celebration was attended by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Korean Consul General Seong-jin Kim, and other state and local officials, Hankook said.

When the second phase of development is complete, Hankook Tire will double its production capacity to 11 million units annually.

The plant has brought about 1,000 jobs to the local economy, and later infrastructure expansion is expected to bring the remaining total. Hankook also moved its U.S. headquarters to Nashville last year and hired more than 100 employees to oversee operations there.

The 1.5-million-sq.-ft. facility sits on 469 acres, and is built with sustainable design and construction practices. It will produce passenger car radial and light truck radial tires from Hankook's North American lineup, including the Kinergy PT, a touring all-season tire and Hankook's first tire made in the U.S.

The new plant signifies Hankook Tire's growing business in the U.S. and is part of an ongoing commitment to innovation and service, according to Seung Hwa Suh, global CEO of Hankook Tire.