Sen. Tim Scott tours Giti Tire's South Carolina plant

RICHBURG, S.C. — U.S. Sen. Tim Scott was introduced to the world of tire making on Dec. 4 during his tour of the Giti Tire Group's $560 million tire plant in Richburg.

Mr. Scott, the junior senator from South Carolina, spoke to several employees during the tour and learned about the tire-making process at the state-of-the-art facility.

"I found the Giti employees to be friendly and professional," Mr. Scott said. "They are very happy to be here, and I can see why. It is a very clean and healthy environment...a great example of the future in manufacturing."

In remarks to employees and officials, Mr. Scott said it was important for the U.S. to attract companies such as Giti Tire, to invest in American manufacturing. He was especially impressed to learn the plant is expected to create 1,700 jobs once it reaches full capacity.

A ceremony was held to mark the opening of the 1.7 million-sq.-ft. facility on Oct. 4.

The South Carolina company, Giti Manufacturing (USA) Ltd., plans to have 400 employees by year-end, 1,000 by year-end 2018 and 1,700 at full capacity. The plant's first-phase nameplate capacity is 5 million passenger and light truck tires for the U.S. market.

"It's a great time to be an American company," he said. "Creating a pro-business environment like we have here in South Carolina is an important part of the equation in creating highly skilled and qualified jobs like they have here at the Giti Tire plant."

The company announced plans for its first manufacturing plant in the U.S. in June 2014, and the groundbreaking was held in 2015.

Hank Eisenga, vice president of manufacturing for Giti Tire Manufacturing (USA) said it was a honor to host Mr. Scott.

"He spent a lot of time speaking with employees, and I believe got a good sense of what makes this plant so special — the combination of very dedicated people and world-class tire manufacturing technology," he said.

The plant is scheduled to make Dextero-, GT Radial- and Giti brand tires, the latter of which will be a new brand to be launched in 2018.

Giti Tire USA recently disclosed it had earned an OE fitment with Volkswagen of America for tires that will be manufactured at the new plant. The premium all-season Giti ComfortA1 will be OE fitment in sizes 235/45R18 95H and 235/40R19 92H on the 2019 VW Passat is manufactured in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Singapore-headquartered Giti Tire Group is world's 11th largest tire maker, based on 2016 sales of $3.03 billion, according to Tire Business' annual global tire rankings.