Effective 1 December 2024, Jongho Park has been appointed as chief operating officer (COO) and president for Hankook Tire Europe. Park will lead the premium tyre manufacturer’s operations in its key European market. He takes over the role from Sanghoon Lee, who will be assuming responsibility for Hankook Tire & Technology as president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The new Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé is available with Hankook Ventus S1 evo Z tyres as an original fitment. Hankook Tire is supplying bespoke versions of this UUHP tyre, with a modified tread pattern and compound, to ensure the 585 hp / 430 kW car achieves “maximum grip even in extreme driving conditions.” The tyre maker says that this OEM approval, including the vehicle manufacturer’s M01 (Mercedes-AMG Original) symbol on the tyre’s sidewall, marks the “first partnership between Mercedes-AMG and Hankook.”
Hankook Tire has entered into a partnership with automotive tuning company Brabus, making the tyre maker an official technology partner. While one goal of this cooperation is for Hankook to develop customised tyres for Brabus, the German firm will initially equip its cars with Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 and Ventus S1 evo Z tyres in rim diameters up to 23-inches. For customers specifying winter tyres, Brabus will offer the Hankook Winter i*cept evo 3.
As of 1 July 2023, Stephan Brückner is responsible for Kumho Tire’s original equipment business with all German vehicle manufacturers as Senior Sales Account Manager. He joins Kumho from Hankook Tire Europe, where he most recently served as OE Account Manager.
Hankook Tire has introduced a new generation of regional to long-distance truck tyres into its SmartFlex Series. It premiered the SmartFlex AH51 steer axle and SmartFlex DH51 drive axle tyres at the CV Show in Birmingham today, and reports that the first six dimensions will be available in selected European markets from November.
Hankook Tire Europe says it is “repositioning itself for the new decade,” and to support this has given Sang Hoon Lee responsibility for its operative business in the Europe and CIS regions. As chief operation officer and president, Lee succeeds Han-Jun Kim as head of Hankook’s European headquarters.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.