The gap at the top of Hankook Tyre UK’s management following Gaugseung Lee’s appointment as vice-president of marketing and sales for Europe has been filled by Jong Jin Park. Mr. Park is now managing director of Hankook’s second largest entity in Europe, and joins Hankook Tyre UK with more than ten years of experience in various positions within the company.
Hankook has confirmed reports of Gangseung ‘Tony’ Lee’s appointment as vice president of marketing and sales for Europe. The manufacturer said his appointment reflects both the continual and long-term growth of the Hankook brand in the European tyre market as well as the increasing importance of the European business unit within the group. The appointment was effective from New Year’s Day 2015.
Starting 5 January, Stephen Marsh has taken on the role of retail development manager at Hankook Tyre UK. Marsh brings with him 30 years of industry experience at numerous companies, including Kwik Fit, Pirelli, CPK Auto Products and Stapleton’s Tyre Services, and he is tasked with the goal of contributing to the further development and expansion of the Hankook Masters Program in the UK. The tyre maker views his extensive experience as a trainer as an important skill that will allow him to provide added value to the network. Marsh will also work with other regional retailers and assist in developing the reach of Hankook’s portfolio.
The 24H Dubai is currently taking place, and for the first time ever, Hankook Tire is serving as title sponsor and exclusive tyre partner to the event. Qualifying and night practice for the race began yesterday, with the Hankook 24H Dubai 2015 race itself getting underway at 1.30pm local time (9.30am GMT/UTC). This season-opener in the United Arab Emirates doubles as the flagship event and curtain-raiser for the ‘24H Series powered by Hankook,’ which was recently granted official international series status by the FIA.
Hee-Se Ahn, who until recently served as vice-president of Marketing & Sales at Hankook Tire Europe, has been appointed president of Hankook Tire America Corp. and chief operating officer for the tyre maker’s business operations throughout the Americas. Mr Ahn’s new role began on 1 January, and he is now based at Hankook Tire’s America headquarters in New Jersey. His successor as vice-president of Marketing & Sales in Europe is Gang Seung (Tony) Lee, who was previously managing director of Hankook Tyre UK Ltd. Hankook will release details about Lee’s successor in the near future.
Two Hankook tyres have been selected as original equipment fitments on the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. The MPV will receive the Ventus Prime² in size 225/55 R 17 101 V XL and the Vantra LT in size 205/65 R 16 C 101/103 H. Both tyre specifications are manufactured in Hankook’s plant in Hungary.
Korea’s Hankook Tire is a 19.49 per cent shareholder in Halla Visteon Climate Control Corp after it and private equity firm Hahn & Company acquired the close to 70 per cent company share that Visteon Corp held in the joint venture. Its 50.5 per cent stake makes Hahn & Company the largest shareholder in the climate control system specialist, while Hankook Tire is the second largest. According to a disclosure made to the Korea Stock Exchange, Hankook Tire paid a total of Krw 1.08 trillion (£630.2 million) for the 20.8 million shares it received.
It’s now two years since Hankook Tire began supplying AH12 steer and Z35A drive axle tyres to bus manufacturer Blue Bird Corporation for original equipment fitment on its school buses, and the US-based company has recognised Hankook’s efforts by bestowing it one of ten 2014 Outstanding Supplier Awards; Hankook award success was in the Polymer category. This is the second year in a row Hankook has received the award; the tyre maker says its back to back wins underscore the commitment shown in its original equipment activities with Blue Bird Corporation.
According to news published by both Reuters and Bloomberg, South Korea’s Hankook Tire may submit a joint bid with private equity company Hahn & Company to acquire a majority share in climate control system specialist Halla Visteon Climate Control Corp. Reuter says its information comes from a Hankook Tire official, who was not named, while Bloomberg’s report is based on an e-mail from the tyre maker that confirmed interest in jointly purchasing the 70 per cent company share that Visteon Corp. presently holds.
At the Essen Motor Show, which concludes this weekend, Hankook Tire has announced it will continue as a main sponsor of the Tune it! Safe!, a German campaign that aims to ensure vehicle tuning enthusiasts keep their modifications safe and legal. The campaign is now in its tenth year.
It’s already reported having original equipment tyre supply deals for the TT and TTS in the bag, now Hankook Tire has announced it will also supply original equipment tyres to a race championship featuring the Audi model. As exclusive tyre supplier to the Audi Sport TT Cup racing series, Hankook will supply all competitors with its Ventus Race tyres.
The winners of the Hankook Tyre Design Challenge 2014 were announced at the Essen Motor Show in Germany today. This is the fourth time the competition has been held, and this year’s winner is Samir Sadikov, who submitted a ‘Dakar’ racing tyre concept. Runner up was Andreas Hartl with an intelligent “vent tyre” and third place was taken by Lucia Less with the ‘concept winter’ self-transforming snow tyre. These top concepts, which were selected by a jury of design and tyre experts and produced in prototype form by Hankook, will be on display for the rest of the Essen Motor Show’s duration.
Three dimensions from Hankook’s Ventus S1 evo² line-up will be supplied to Audi for original equipment on its TT and TTS models. Size 225/50R17, 245/45R17 and 245/35R19 tyres, all produced at the tyre maker’s Rácalmás plant in Hungary, will be fitted on the latest version of the Audi models as standard or optional equipment, depending on the engine version.
Following the news that the US Department of Commerce (DoC) had set the preliminary countervailing duty for Chinese consumer tyres, market analysts have begun estimating what they think the outcome of final determinations will be when they are announced on 6 April 2015. Preliminary details of anti-dumping duties are expected in January 2015. Writing in […]
Hankook Tire Europe has announced an upgrade to its AH11 truck tyre and the introduction of its DH05+ pattern into Europe. These tyres are – as first announced at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in September – fitted to the Mercedes-Benz Atego Euro VI as original equipment in sizes 215/75R17.5, 235/75R17.5, 265/70R19.5 and 285/70R19.5, depending on vehicle specification. Fitment on the world’s best-selling distribution truck is Hankook’s first European Daimler commercial vehicle tyre deal.
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