Hankook eyes increased sales with U.S. tire plant on horizon

摘要

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica—Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. expects to break ground this year on its U.S. passenger and light truck tire plant in Clarksville, Tenn., according to Byeong Jin Lee, president of Hankook Tire America Corp. Speaking to tire dealers gathered for Hankook's Partners Day in Jamaica, Feb. 18, and in an interview, Lee said the company is waiting for groundwork to be completed at the site before beginning construction on the Clarksville plant. Once construction has begun, it should take about 18 months to complete, with tire production to begin at the $800 million project sometime in 2016. Hankook expects to have initial annual capacity of 6 million tires at the facility, which will rise to 11 million to 12 million units after the second phase of the plant is completed.