Hankook Launches U.S. Truck Tire Manufacturing in July at Tennessee Plant

Key Details Hankook Tire America will begin producing truck tires at its Clarksville, Tennessee facility in early July, marking the company's first domestic TBR (truck and bus radial) manufacturing. Construction of Phase 3 expansion, which started in December 2023, wraps up in late June. The facility will initially produce fifth-generation tires and select fourth-generation products currently sourced from South Korea. Why It Matters This move reverses a declining trend in U.S. tire production, as competitors like Bridgestone and Yokohama have recently shuttered domestic plants. By end of 2027, Hankook expects 85-90% of its U.S. truck tire sales to come from Clarksville production. The expansion will create 400 new jobs and represents a $1.6 billion overall investment in the facility. Growth Strategy Hankook's decision to localize production supports long-term expansion plans and reduces reliance on imports. The company is also doubling passenger and light-truck tire production to 10 million units annually. When both expansions complete, Clarksville will employ 2,200 workers. Industry analysts project U.S. truck OEM tire demand will reach 4.7 million units in 2026, an 8.3% increase, giving Hankook strong market momentum.