It may not be the best-selling Korean tyre brand worldwide, but at home Kumho outsells its domestic rivals. Data from the Korea Tire Manufacturers Association (KOTMA) indicates that 6.52 million replacement market Kumho tyres were sold in South Korea in 2018. This is more than 40 per cent of all locally-made tyres sold in the country.
Kumho Tire has once again been selected as an original equipment supplier to Mercedes-Benz. The latest generation of its G-Class model, produced in Graz, Austria, is factory fitted with Kumho’s Solus KL21 SUV tyres in size 265/60 R18 110H.
Kumho Tire has appointed its interim CEO as the new permanent CEO following reports it was struggling to find a suitable candidate. South Korean media sources report that the Board approved the appointment of vice president Jeon Dae-Jin (60) yesterday. Kumho also reported a net loss for the fourth consecutive year in its annual financial report.
Jun Ro Song was appointed president of Kumho Tire Europe on 1 January, 2019. He succeeds Kyungtai Ju, who has returned to Korea. The 53-year-old has held numerous positions with the Korean tyre manufacturer for almost 30 years.
Kumho Tire has been struggling appoint new company leadership after its previous chairman left following Doublestar’s purchase of the company.
Kumho has added the new BMW 5 Series to its portfolio of OEM supply deals. The tyre manufacturer’s Ecsta PS91 super sports tyre in size 245/45R18 XL 100Y is now being delivered to the German marque’s Dingolfing plant in Bavaria.
Kumho Tire USA has announced that Samuel Choi has succeeded Harry Choi as CEO. According to the company, Harry Choi is stepping down “to pursue new career opportunities” after six years leading Kumho’s US headquarters. Kumho reports that the transition comes as a part of a global shift in key executive management roles geared to positively reinforce the company for the present and future.
Doublestar Tyres, the new majority shareholder of Kumho, recently announced that its tyres are on-sale alongside premium brands at Carrefour supermarkets in Spain.
According to Doublestar, which compared Carrefour founded in 1959 to Walmart in the USA, the supermarket chain is Europe’s favourite. Having pioneered the so-called hypermarket approach in Europe Carrefour has developed into the largest retailer in Europe and the second largest international retail chain group in the world, with business scope covering more than 40 countries and regions. Carrefour owns 17 large chain stores in Spain, which covers the Iberian area and radiates to the whole pan-European region. With an annual population of 400 million, Carrefour is a perfect channel for product sales and a perfect platform for brand exposure.
The partnership between Kumho Tire and Tottenham Hotspur FC that began in 2016 has been extended for a further three years from the start of the 2018/19 season. A new agreement covering this was signed yesterday afternoon at the football club’s training centre in the presence of executive director Donna-Maria Cullen and first-team players Heung-min Son, Victor Wanyama, Fernando Llorente and Kieran Trippier.
Kumho has enhanced its 4×4 tyre range with the Crugen HP91 and KL33 SUV offerings, covering the majority of on-road sizes between them, while the cross-functional Road Venture patterned MT51 and established KL71 also cover everything from such top end SUVs as the Range Rover and BMW X5 to the ever-popular Land Rover Defender.
Under a technology transfer agreement signed with Pakistan-based battery manufacturer Century Engineering Industries, South Korean tyre maker Kumho Tire will provide technological and manufacturing know-how as Century establishes its own tyre production plant. The agreement signed in Seoul today covers the ten-year period to September 2028; Century Engineering will initially pay Kumho Tire US$5 million and 2.5 per cent of turnover for the assistance provided, with the contract scheduled for review after five years.
During last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, Jead Todt disclosed that a second tyre maker has expressed interest in becoming exclusive Formula 1 tyre supplier for the 2020 to 2023 seasons. He didn’t reveal the company’s name – he claimed not to have the information at hand – however we confirmed it wasn’t Michelin.
With immediate effect, Kyungtai Ju has been appointed the new president of Kumho Tire Europe GmbH. He replaces Changrin Suk, who will return to Kumho’s Korean headquarters with responsibility for global sales.
Apollo Tyres’ presence in the truck tyre sector has been bolstered by the appointment of Steve Miller as TBR sales manager, bringing with him over 20 years’ experience, having worked for Kumho on reintroducing the TBR range in the UK, Bridgestone as a national fleet manager (commercial) and Michelin as a sales manager.
Building upon a successful working relationship that began two decades ago, Kumho Tire has appointed R H Claydon to handle its truck tyre distribution requirements for the whole of the UK mainland.
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