The original equipment supply relationship between Hankook Tire and Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania has been extended through the approval of the SmartWork truck tyre series. SmartWork is designed for trucks engaged in construction applications, and the original equipment arrangement covers all Scania vehicles designed for use on construction sites, including the new Scania XT generation of construction vehicles.
Hankook has announced the launch of its 2018 Design Innovation project. Held every two years, the Design Innovation project realises the infinite possibilities of a tyre through designing creative and realistic alternatives to driving.
Chinese bus fleet operator Guangzhou Jumbo Bus Co Ltd. intends to convert its entire fleet of LNG-powered buses to electric propulsion over the coming three years, and as it does so will exclusively shod its fleet with Hankook tyres. Jumbo Bus, which operates six city bus companies and a total of 4,500 buses, signed a memorandum of understanding with Hankook Tire this month covering the supply of tyres specifically developed for electric buses.
An agreement signed at Autosport International last week seals Hankook Tire’s status as exclusive original equipment tyre supplier to Peterborough-based sportscar manufacturer Radical. Hankook tyres will be fitted to Radical’s road and racing models, and through the supply partnership Hankook will be represented in various international racing series in which Radical is closely involved.
Following a long career in the tyre industry and after 25 years’ service at Hankook, former sales manager Ian Mayoll will retire from the company on 31 December 2017. Mayoll was the company’s first UK employee and has been instrumental in the growth of Hankook Tyre UK over the past two and a half decades.
In addition to new president and CEO Soo Il Lee, who will serve alongside Hyun Bum Cho as a separate representative of the company from 1 January 2018, Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. has named a new executive vice-president, five senior vice-presidents and 17 vice-presidents. Announcing these appointments, the tyre maker states that it has restructured its organisation to “respond to the global market and customers with more agility.”
The conclusion of this year’s DTM season left fingernails bitten down to the quick. With no less than six potential candidates in the running to claim the touring car series, the question as to who’d finish on top of the drivers’ championship table stayed open right until the chequered flag waved the end of play at the Hockenheimring circuit. In the end, honours went to Audi works driver René Rast, whose second-placed finish on the day pushed his season tally to 179 points, three points ahead of incumbent championship leader and fellow Audi pilot Mattias Ekström and six ahead of British driver Jamie Green, whose hopes of a championship win were dealt a stinging blow the previous day through a ten-place grid penalty for the final race.
Hankook Tyre UK, elite sponsor of the Northampton Saints, collected for the Daventry and Northampton foodbanks earlier this month as the Club took on Newport Gwent Dragons in the second round of the Anglo-Welsh Cup. Hankook and the Saints asked supporters to bring non-perishable items to the game for collection at the Hankook trailer, located in the Supporter Village at Franklin’s Gardens. Hankook also organised a collection at their head office in Daventry, where staff donated Christmas treats for the cause.
Following the season finale at the Hockenheimring in Germany last month, the DTM touring car championship and exclusive tyre partner Hankook are heading for extra time in the land of the rising sun. On 11 and 12 November, the three competing manufacturers, Audi, BMW and Mercedes AMG, will be present at the final of the Super GT series in Motegi/Japan, returning the visit to Hockenheim made by Super GT.
Hankook has increased its courtesy car scheme with the introduction of a larger fleet of stylish own-branded Hyundai i10s, which have been offered to a selection of supportive dealers across its UK retail network.
The inaugural Schmitz Cargobull Supplier Day was recently held as part of the company’s 125-year anniversary celebrations. The trailer manufacturer honoured suppliers in a variety of categories during the event, including Hankook Tire, the only tyre maker to take home a prize. Hankook was honoured with the ‘Strategic Partnership’ award.
Hankook’s Winter i*cept RS² has proved successful in the latest Winter Tyre Test from Auto Express, the UK’s bestselling car magazine. Finishing a close second against seven other tyre brands in the popular 225/45R17 size found on many family cars, the tyre achieved first place finishes in several categories including snow braking, snow traction and snow circle.
Hankook Tyre UK has extended its courtesy car scheme with the introduction of a larger fleet of branded Hyundai i10s offered to a selection of supportive dealers across its UK retail network. The scheme, set up in 2015, is designed to incentivise supportive dealers with 25 new 67-plate Hankook-liveried Hyundai i10s. The car was selected for its low running costs, and has been supplied to a selection of retailers around the UK over a two-and-a-half-year period as a courtesy car.
Hankook Tire has released the Kinergy PT (H737, the first tyre made exclusively at the company’s Clarksville, Tennessee plant in the USA.
A new generation of Hankook Kinergy Eco will be released in spring 2018. The Kinergy Eco² was developed for modern small, compact and mid-range vehicles and, like its predecessor, a focus has been placed upon safety, fuel economy and driving comfort. An initial launch range of 52 sizes will cover demand in the 13- to 16-inch rim diameter size bracket.
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