A new face at Hankook’s Daventry office. As of 1 October, Chang Yool Han holds the position of managing director at Hankook Tyre UK. He succeeds Brett Emerson, who has returned to Bridgestone as director of its Consumer business unit for the North Region.
Hankook Tire reports that it has been supplying the Porsche Cayenne ex-works with its flagship UHP tyre, the Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV, since June. The mixed fitment sees the Cayenne wear the Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV in size 285/40 ZR 21 (109Y) XL at the front and 315/35 ZR 21 (111Y) XL at the rear.
Winter is on its way, and Hankook Tire has released two new tyres to keep vans on the move in the colder months. The Hankook Vantra ST AS2 is a completely new all-season tyre for vans and light commercial vehicles. Those who prefer a dedicated winter tyre can choose the Hankook Winter i*cept LV.
Hankook Tire has signed a partnership agreement with the Swiss company Kyburz. The first project under this agreement will be to fit Kyburz’s eRod roadster with ultra-high-performance tyres from the Ventus line. The road-legal electric sports car will be equipped with the Ventus V12 evo 2 in size 195/50R15 V. Hankook also becomes the recommended replacement tyre brand for the eRod.
Three Hankook tyre models have been chosen as original equipment for the new Audi Q8. Customers in Europe can receive their crossover fitted with a size 285/45 R21 113 Y XL Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV or, if selecting a winter tyre, the Winter i*cept evo 2 SUV in 285/45 R21 113 V XL. In North America, the Hankook Dynapro HP 2 Plus will be an original equipment tyre for the Audi Q8 in sizes 275/50 R20 113H X, 285/45 R21 113H XL and 285/40 R22 110H XL. Hankook Tire reports that further dimensions will follow.
News reports from Hungary suggest Hankook Tire has put on hold plans to set up a truck tyre production unit at its Rácalmás plant. English-language publication the Budapest Business Journal writes that fellow business daily Világgazdaság shared this news with its readers yesterday.
Hankook Tire is an International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) 2019 ‘Finalist’ in the automotive and transportation category. It has gained distinction thanks to its Hexonic and HLS-23 concept tyres.
In reporting its financial results for the second quarter and first half of 2019, Hankook Tire notes that the six months to 30 June were punctuated by uncertainty within the global tyre market. Challenges faced by many tyre makers include declining vehicle sales, anti-dumping duties and uncertainty caused by US-China trade tensions. Hankook specifically battled high fixed costs during a low demand cycle, a relatively high dependency on China for both production and sales, and issues with stabilisation at its 2017-opened plant in the USA.
Toyota has chosen Hankook tyres as original equipment for the North American market 2020 Corolla. The new model, which went on sale in April, wears the Hankook Kinergy GT (pattern H436) in size 205/55R16 91H.
Hankook Tire was named a GM supplier of the year by General Motors during its 27th annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony, which was held in Detroit, USA on 15 May. This is the third time Hankook Tire has received the award.
Hankook Tire reports that two awards came its way at this year’s Honda Supplier Conference in the USA. The tyre maker was one of just four “double award” suppliers to receive Supplier of the Year awards for excellence in both Quality & Delivery as well as Value. In total, Honda honoured 85 North American OEM parts suppliers.
Hankook tyres will be fitted to more than 1,100 city buses in Barcelona under a new supply agreement with the city’s main public transit operator, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB). Tyres will be supplied and fitted by Grupo Soledad, Hankook Tire’s distributor in Spain.
For the past eight years, Hankook Tire has acted as exclusive tyre partner for the DTM touring car series. This year, the tyre maker is complementing its DTM commitment with involvement in four further championships – the Formula Renault Eurocup, Belcar Series, Mini Challenge Italia and the new, all-female W Series.
Thomas Jacobi is the new director of human resources at Hankook Tire’s European headquarters. He began in this position on 1 March and is responsible for managing the tyre maker’s human resources activities within the region. Jacobi joins Hankook Tire from telecommunications company Syniverse Technologies, where he was senior regional director for the EMEA region. In total, Jacobi has more than 13 years of experience in human resources across various sectors.
The strike at Hankook Tire’s plant in Hungary is over. The tyre maker reports reaching an agreement with trade union VDSZ last week. Hankook will provide workers financial incentives to perform shift work as well as offer bonuses for long service and achieving set goals.
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