Hankook targets top-tier position in Europe and North America. 17 Jul 2026 US truck and bus tire production set to begin at expanded Tennessee plant Seoul - Hankook Tire has set a goal of achieving a "top-tier" market position in Europe and North America by 2030, towards becoming a global 'top-five' tire maker with annual sales of $13 billion (€11.3 billion). Under its 2030 mid/long-term strategy, Hankookx is targeting a 6.5% share of the global market, with annual production capacity of 150 million tires, said its recently issued 2025 ESG report. Furthermore, the company aims to achieve a top-tier premium positioning for the Hankook brand, and to be ranked among the top three tire makers in terms of technology leadership. In the EV segment, the South Korean tire maker has set itself the target of 'no. 1 position' over the next five years, the report continued. The goal is to "emerge as a global top-tier company that leads the future automotive industry" by strengthening core business, technology leadership, innovation and premium branding. In North America, Hankook said its Tennessee plant "will soon" add production capacity for 1 million truck and bus radial (TBR) tires/year - Hankoook's first full-scale TBR manufacturing site in the US. The expansion will support the launch of the fifth-generation AL52, DL52 and TL52 tires for the North American long-haul segment, which incorporate the company's latest technologies. Hankook said the new products, together with the Tennessee expansion (ERJ report), are expected to "play a pivotal role" in supporting its premium strategy and increasing its market share in the US. The Korean group currently operates eight production sites across Korea, China, the US, Hungary and Indonesia, with annual production capacity of more than 100 million tires. * Every issue of European Rubber Journal (6 issues) including Special Reports & Maps. * Unlimited access to ERJ articles online * Daily email newsletter - the latest news direct to your inbox * Access to the ERJ online archive

Hankook Tire wins Gold at Italy's 'A' Design Award & Competition' July 11, 2026 Hankook Tire & Technology has won the Gold Award at Italy's A' Design Award & Competition 2026 for its Bladder Upcycling Series, developed through the company's ESG upcycling project re:move. The series reuses bladders, which are inflatable molds used in the tire curing process, and transforms them into furniture, bricks and lifestyle goods. The project highlights how tire manufacturing by-products can be redirected into new design applications, supporting resource circulation, recycling and sustainability through material innovation. Bladder Upcycling Series recognized in international design competition. The A' Design Award & Competition receives entries from more than 100 countries across categories such as product design, architecture, fashion and graphic design. Hankook Tire received the Gold Award for the Bladder Upcycling Series on its first participation in the competition. According to the company, the Gold Award is presented to the top three percent of entries. Project reuses tire manufacturing by-products. The Bladder Upcycling Series was created as part of Hankook Tire's re:move project, an ESG initiative focused on transforming discarded manufacturing materials into new resources through creative upcycling. The project uses bladders from the tire curing process and explores how these materials can be reused through collaboration with partners in design, research and other industries. Hankook Tire said the initiative also supports its work in material research and sustainable design. Collection developed with Seoul National University lab. The award-winning series was developed with DISCO Lab, the Design Innovation for Sustainable Circularity Lab at Seoul National University. The collection includes 3D-printed upcycled furniture that uses the distinctive layered texture of the bladder material, upcycled bricks made with recycled tire molds for kinetic wall installations, and handcrafted upcycled keyrings designed as lifestyle accessories. The judges recognized the series for its approach to circular design and resource sustainability. Series first presented at Seoul Design Festival. The Bladder Upcycling Series was first unveiled at Seoul Design Festival 2025. Following the A' Design Award recognition, the winning works will be permanently exhibited at the Museo del Design in Como, Italy. Hankook Tire said the award reflects the company's design activities beyond mobility, including material innovation and lifestyle design based on reused tire manufacturing materials. The re:move project has previously received international recognition for sustainable design. Its first outcome, the Upcycled Longboard, received the Winner Award in the Concept Design category at the Red Dot Design Award 2024 in Singapore and later received the 2025 Green GOOD DESIGN Sustainability Award in the United States. Hankook Tire said it plans to continue expanding the reuse and recycling of unused materials while developing sustainable design projects linked to resource circulation. Weibold is an international consulting company specializing exclusively in end-of-life tire recycling and pyrolysis. Since 1999, we have helped companies grow and build profitable businesses.

Hankook Tire drives cross-segment strategy forward at Overland Expo PNW and Demo Days Festival. Posted on July 1, 2026 Leading global tire manufacturer Hankook Tire revved up its cross-sector strategy and showcased adventurous off-road offerings and EV-specific fitments during two recent events: Overland Expo PNW and Demo Days Festival. The company will participate in additional industry events throughout the year, demonstrating Hankook Tire's ongoing focus on delivering a full portfolio of tires for SUVs, light trucks, and EVs, while offering opportunities to connect firsthand with drivers and partners. During Overland Expo PNW, Hankook Tire displayed its flagship off-road tires, the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme, Dynapro XT and Dynapro MT2. Visitors at Hankook Tire's booth learned more about the Dynapro line, joined product demos on how to choose the right off-road tire, and participated in sweepstakes for the opportunity to win the grand prize: a set of Dynapro tires. At the event, visitors saw the Dynapro MT2's ruggedness up close in a Toyota Sequoia demo vehicle. Also, Hankook Tire sponsored an on-site Bivvy Lounge, providing event attendees with a space to network, recharge, and hydrate throughout the event. In addition, Hankook also hosted an Ambassador Camp with OVR Magazine, fostering direct connections with true off-roaders and overlanders through fireside chats, a family-style dinner, and engaging conversations about their unique tire requirements, performance expectations, and the realities of off-road and overlanding life. Demo Days Festival is an evolution of the Electrify Expo EV event reflecting the broader vehicle landscape and consumer journey. At North America's largest outdoor demo festival, Hankook Tire showcased its iON lineup developed exclusively for electric vehicles. In addition, Hankook Tire hosted a Ride and Drive with Lucid Gravity, offering visitors an electrified driving experience, as well as conducting a series of giveaways throughout the event. "Events like Overland Expo and Demo Days offer us the chance to connect directly with drivers, whether they're opting to go off-road or charged up about the EV experience," said Heather Kieselbach, Brand Communications Manager, Hankook Tire America Corp. "We continue to ramp up our North American presence by expanding our offerings for customers and expanding our operations at our Tennessee Plant. This week's events emphasize the acceleration of our cross-segment strategy." As Hankook Tire continues to strengthen its position as a top-seven global leader, events such as Overland Expo PNW and Demo Days support the company's broader commitment to delivering advanced mobility solutions through product innovation, technical expertise, and real-world performance. The company supplies OE tires for more than 300 models across 50 global automotive brands, with North American growth driven by key partnerships across premium and next-generation vehicle segments. Through premier U.S. sponsorships, including TGL presented by SoFi and signage in MLB stadiums, Hankook Tire continues to expand its brand presence while delivering advanced mobility solutions for today's global drivers. Next up, the company will attend Overland Expo MTN West, Aug. 21-23, and Demo Days Festival in San Francisco August 22-23.