MACON, Ga. — Kumho Tire USA Inc. is resuming production at its tire plant in Macon, at least temporarily, the company said.
The facility in Macon resumed production May 5 and is scheduled to keep running "with enhanced safety precautions" until May 15, the company said.
Kumho idled the plant April 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and said it would rely on production from factories in South Korea and Vietnam to fill any inventory void.
"We will continue to monitor the situation closely, check the production status of our OE partners, and determine whether to keep it open through the end of the month," the company said in a statement.
When the plant opened in 2016, Kumho indicated that 80% of its business was expected to come from global auto makers operating in North America.
The facility started construction in 2008, but that work was put on hold when a global financial crisis hit that year. Construction on the $450 million plant resumed in 2014 and was finished in 2016.