View source for Hankook

{{short description|South Korean tire manufacturer}}
{{about|the tire manufacturer|the country sometimes romanized as "Hankook"|Korea}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd.
| logo = Hankook Logo 2024.svg
| native_name = 한국타이어앤테크놀로지 주식회사
| native_name_lang = ko
| type = [[public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{kse|161390}}
| industry = [[Automobile|Auto]] and truck parts
| foundation = {{start date and age|1941|5|10|df=y}} (as Chosun Tire Company)
| founder = Cho Hong-jai
| location = [[Bundang-gu]], [[Seongnam-si]], [[South Korea]]
| key_people = Cho Hyun-bum <small>(CEO)</small>
| num_employees = 21,000 Worldwide
| brands = Hankook, Laufenn
| revenue = [[South Korean won|KRW]] 8,394 billion (2022)
| net_income = [[South Korean won|KRW]] 705 billion (2022)
| parent = Hankook & Company
| homepage = {{URL|www.hankooktire.com/global|www.hankooktire.com}}
}}
'''Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd.''' ({{Korean|hangul=한국타이어앤테크놀로지 주식회사|hanja=韓國타이어앤테크놀로지株式會社|rr=Hanguk-Taieo-aen-Tekeunolloji Jusikhoesa|lit='(South) Korea'}}), also known simply as '''Hankook''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|æ|ŋ|k|ʊ|k}} {{respell|HANG|kuuk}}, {{IPA|ko|haːnɡuk̚|lang}}), is a South Korean tire company based in [[Seoul]]. It is the seventh largest [[tire]] company in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=The world's largest tire producers in FY 2014, based on tire-related sales (in billion U.S. dollars) |url=http://www.statista.com/statistics/225677/revenue-of-the-leading-tire-producers-worldwide/ |publisher=Statistica.com}}</ref> It is a part of Hankook & Company.
==History==
Hankook Tire was established in 1941 as "Chosun Tire Company"({{langx|ja|朝鮮タイヤ工業}}) and was renamed to "Hankook Tire Manufacturing" in 1968. Both ''[[Joseon|Chosun]]'' and ''[[Hanguk|Hankook]]'' [[names of Korea|literally mean "Korea"]].
The company now supplies tires as original equipment to various automakers. In addition to producing about 102 million tires annually, the company also sells [[Automotive battery|batteries]], [[alloy wheel]]s, and [[brake pad]]s.
In 2011, Hankook Tire Co. announced that the company will invest $1.1 billion to build a factory in West Java, Indonesia as part of a plan to become the 5th largest tire manufacturer in the world.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/01/20/hankook-announces-us353-million-investment.html |title=Hankook announces US$353 million investment |date=January 20, 2011 |first=Rangga D. |last=Fadillah |newspaper=The Jakarta Post |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124161517/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/01/20/hankook-announces-us353-million-investment.html |archive-date=2011-01-24}}</ref> On June 9, 2011 a ground breaking ceremony was held at a 60-hectare area as a regional hub production for export to Asian, North America and Middle East countries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/06/10/hankook-make-ri-production-hub.html |title=Hankook to make RI production hub |first=Linda |last=Yulisman |date=June 10, 2011 |access-date=December 1, 2019}}</ref>
In October 2013, the company announced plans to open a new factory in [[Clarksville, Tennessee|Clarksville]], [[Tennessee]] which was later opened in October 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20131014/OEM10/131019951/hankook-tire-to-invest-800-million-to-build-first-u-s-plant#axzz2hhmBrTW2 |title=Hankook Tire to invest $800 million to build first U.S. plant |agency=[[Bloomberg News]] |newspaper=[[Automotive News]] |date=October 14, 2013 |access-date=December 1, 2019|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Hankook Tire Celebrates Grand Opening of First U.S. Manufacturing Plant|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hankook-tire-celebrates-grand-opening-of-first-us-manufacturing-plant-300538239.html|publisher=Hankook Tire America Corp.|via=PR Newswire|date=October 17, 2022}}</ref>
In November 2014, the company announced the launch of its sub-brand, Laufenn.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 6, 2014 |title=Hankook Tire launches new brand Laufenn |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20141106003100320 |access-date=November 14, 2024 |website=[[Yonhap News Agency]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tire |first=Hankook |date=November 5, 2014 |title=Hankook Tire Launches 'Laufenn' as New Global Tire Brand for Smart & Sensible Drivers |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hankook-tire-launches-laufenn-as-new-global-tire-brand-for-smart--sensible-drivers-281714101.html#:~:text=LAS%20VEGAS,%20Nov.,event%20in%20Las%20Vegas,%20NV. |access-date=November 14, 2024 |website=PR Newswire |language=}}</ref>
== Facts and figures ==
According to ''Modern Tire Dealer'', Hankook's new tire sales for 2007 were $3.5 billion, a 20.7% year-over-year increase from 2006 ($2.9 billion).{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
==Global offices==
The company has its headquarters in [[South Korea]] and has manufacturing facilities in [[South Korea]], the [[People's Republic of China]], [[Hungary]], [[Indonesia]], and the [[United States]]. It has technical centers in Daejon, Korea; Akron, Ohio; Hannover, Germany; Osaka, Japan; and China.
In April 2016, the company announced it would move its North American headquarters from [[Wayne, New Jersey]], to [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. This move is reported to create up to 200 jobs in [[Davidson County, Tennessee|Davidson County]] and the company would be investing $5 million in the process.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tirebusiness.com/article/20160413/NEWS/160419958/hankook-to-invest-5m-in-hq-move-to-nashville-update |title=Hankook to invest $5M in HQ move to Nashville (Update) |work=Tire Business |date=2016-04-13 |access-date=2016-04-14}}</ref>
==Motorsports involvement==
[[File:Hankook DTM tyres Brands Hatch 2019 (48855101622).jpg|thumb|right|Hankook [[Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters|DTM]] tyres]]
Hankook entered motorsports in Europe, North America, and in Asia. They signed with FBR (Farnbarcher Racing) to race a Ferrari F430 GT with Hankook Tires in the [[2009 Le Mans Series season]]. The company supplied tires for the [[Primetime Race Group]] that raced in the GT2 class of the [[American Le Mans Series]] in 2008. It supplied tires from 2007 to 2009 for [[IMSA Prototype Lites]], a support series for the [[American Le Mans Series]]. Since 2009, the Hankook Team Farnbacher has competed in the GT class of the [[Le Mans Series]]. It also supplies tires for the Hankook KTR team that races in the [[Super GT]] and the [[Asian Le Mans Series]] and for the [[Formula 3 Euroseries]].
In [[rallying]], Hankook are the series sponsors of the [[Scottish Rally Championship]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scottishrallychampionship.co.uk/ |title=SRC homepage |publisher=SRC |access-date=2010-11-19 |date=2010-11-19}}</ref> Its tires have been used at the European-based [[Intercontinental Rally Challenge]] as well.
Hankook was the tire supplier of the [[Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters]] from 2011 to 2020.
Hankook sponsored [[Formula Drift]] driver [[Chris Forsberg]], a three-time champion (with his most recent championship coming as recent as the 2016 season), until the 2018 season.
Hankook was the official tire supllier for [[Super Taikyu Series|Super Taikyu]] championship series that held in Japan from 2021 until 2023.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hankook Tire to Exclusively Supply Tires for Super Taikyu, Asia’s Largest Endurance GT Series|url=https://www.hankooktire.com/global/en/company/media-list/media-detail.68251.html|date=2020-12-07|access-date=2024-04-20}}</ref> Due the fire severely damaged Hankook's [[Daejeon]] plant in 2023, the company withdrawn its supplying contract for the Super Taikyu series.<ref>{{cite news|title=Plant Fire Forces Hankook to Give Up Super Taikyu Supply|url=https://www.motorsport.com/super-taikyu/news/hankook-tyre-plant-fire-bridgestone/10459878/|last=Klein|first=Jamie|website=Motorsport.com|date=2023-04-24|access-date=2024-04-20}}</ref> As the result, Bridgestone took over Hankook's position in Super Taikyu on 24 April 2023 and effective immediately, as initially announced to start the contract for the 2024 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bridgestone Replaces Hankook as Super Taikyu Tyre Supplier with Immediate Effect|url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/04/24/bridgestone-replaces-hankook-as-super-taikyu-tyre-supplier-with-immediate-effect.html|last=O'Connell|first=RJ|website=DailySportsCar.com|date=2023-04-24|access-date=2024-04-20}}</ref>
Hankook replaced [[Michelin]] as the official tire supplier for [[Formula E]] for its third-generation car starting from the [[2022–23 Formula E World Championship|2022–23 season]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-01|title=Hankook grabs Formula E tyre deal for Gen3|url=https://the-race.com/formula-e/hankook-grabs-formula-e-tyre-deal-for-gen3/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=The Race|language=en-GB}}</ref>
Starting in 2025, Hankook will be the tire supplier for the [[World Rally Championship]], replacing [[Pirelli]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hankook Wins WRC Tyre Tender|url=https://www.wrc.com/a/news/w27053_Hankook-wins-WRC-tyre-tender|date=2023-12-06|access-date=2024-04-20}}</ref>
==Sponsorships==
Hankook sponsors [[Real Madrid]],<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2016/08/real-madrid-present-the-agreement-with-hankook-tire |title=Real Madrid present the agreement with Hankook Tire |publisher=Real Madrid CF |date=2016-08-31 |access-date=2019-12-01}}</ref> [[Bundesliga]] club [[Borussia Dortmund]], [[Ligue 1]] club [[AS Monaco FC]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hankooktire-mediacenter.com/press-release//hankook-tire-france-becomes-sponsor-of-as-monaco/?flt=1&cHash=5fd39091196550b6b6f2996ec14f0ab9 |title=Hankook Tire Media Center & Press Room {{!}} Europe & CIS: Hankook Tire France becomes sponsor of AS Monaco |website=www.hankooktire-mediacenter.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111133917/https://www.hankooktire-mediacenter.com/press-release//hankook-tire-france-becomes-sponsor-of-as-monaco/?flt=1&cHash=5fd39091196550b6b6f2996ec14f0ab9 |archive-date=2020-11-11}}</ref> and [[NIFL Premiership]] club [[Carrick Rangers F.C.|Carrick Rangers]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carrick Rangers Football Club 2023-24 |url=https://www.carrickrangers.co.uk/newsitem.aspx?id=1758 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=www.carrickrangers.co.uk}}</ref>
Hankook was once the major sponsor of the [[Melbourne Football Club]] in the [[Australian Football League]].
Hankook sponsors the English rugby union team [[Northampton Saints]].
Hankook sponsors the New Zealand Super Rugby team the [[Crusaders (rugby union)|Crusaders]].
Hankook is one of the sponsors of the [[UEFA Europa League]] since 2012. In 2021, Hankook's partnership with UEFA was renewed and will include sponsoring the new [[UEFA Europa Conference League]] through the Laufenn brand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |date=27 August 2021 |title=Hankook Tire renews longstanding UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League partnership {{!}} Inside UEFA |url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/026c-13193f496cff-ec3e691b7999-1000--hankook-tire-renews-longstanding-uefa-europa-league-and-uefa-eu/ |access-date= |website=UEFA.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephen |date=27 August 2021 |title=Laufenn tyre brand to sponsor UEFA Europa Conference |url=https://www.tyrepress.com/2021/08/laufenn-tyre-brand-to-sponsor-uefa-europa-conference-league/ |access-date= |website=Tyrepress |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Hankook is also involved in [[Drifting (motorsport)|drifting]] sponsorship in a number of countries, most notably in North America in the [[Formula D]] championship and in Ireland in the [http://www.prodriftseries.com/ Prodrift] championship.
Hankook is the official tire supplier of the reality TV series ''[[Car Warriors (TV series)|Car Warriors]]''.
From 2017 to 2022, Hankook was one of the major sponsors of the [[Kontinental Hockey League]].
Hankook is also involved with simracing, as the main sponsor for [[Liga ZGT]] and [[ApexGT e-Sports]], brazilians Gran Turismo Sport Simracing League.
Since 2018, Hankook has been the official tire of [[Major League Baseball]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Staff |first1=Tire Review |title=Hankook Tire Presents MLB Marketing Campaign |url=https://www.tirereview.com/hankook-tire-mlb-marketing-campaign/ |website=Tire Review Magazine |access-date=19 October 2020 |language=en |date=27 July 2020}}</ref> and sponsored the 2020 MLB Wild Card Series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Staff |first1=Tire Review |title=Hankook Tire Sponsors MLB Wild Card Series |url=https://www.tirereview.com/hankook-tire-sponsors-mlb-wild-card-series/ |website=Tire Review Magazine |access-date=19 October 2020 |date=30 September 2020}}</ref>
Since 2019, Hankook is the main sponsor of [[SVRT]], a Gran Turismo Sport SimRacing Team.
In 2021 Hankook will be sponsoring the 3DBotMaker Diecast Racing League on YouTube.
== Awards ==
Traditionally, Hankook has applied for international product design competitions. The received awards are widely used in the company's marketing activities, for example, at specialized exhibitions, during training seminars for dealers, in printed catalogs and advertising. Hankook received most of the awards from the German-based organizations [[International Forum Design]] and [[Red Dot]].
{| class="wikitable"
|+A list of awards that Hankook consumer tires have received at various times<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Hankook tires|url=https://autoset.by/tires/hankook/|website=Autoset}}</ref>
!Tire
!Competition
!Award
!Year
|-
|Hankook Optimo 4S H730
|iF Design Award
|Winner
|2009
|-
|Hankook Winter icept evo W310
|Red Dot Design Award
|Honorable mention
|2010
|-
|Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 K117
|iF Design Award
|Winner
|2012
|-
|Hankook Winter icept evo W310
|Good Design Awards (Chicago Athenaeum)
|Good Design Awards
|2012
|-
|Hankook Ventus V2 concept2 H457
|Korean Good Design Award
|Good Design Awards
|2013
|-
|Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 K120
|Korean Good Design Award
|Good Design Awards
|2013
|-
|Hankook Dynapro HP2 RA33
|Korean Good Design Award
|Good Design Awards
|2013
|-
|Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 K120
|Red Dot Design Award
|Winner
|2014
|-
|Hankook Kinergy 4S H740
|iF Design Award
|Winner
|2014
|-
|Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 K117
|Good Design Awards (Japan Institute of Design Promotion)
|Good Design Awards
|2014
|-
|Hankook Ventus S1 noble2 H452
|iF Design Award
|Winner
|2015
|-
|Hankook Ventus V2 concept2 H457
|iF Design Award
|Winner
|2015
|-
|Hankook Smart Flex AH31
|iF Design Award
|Winner
|2015
|-
|Hankook Winter icept evo2 W320
|Red Dot Design Award
|Winner
|2015
|-
|Hankook Winter icept evo2 W320
|Korean Good Design Award
|Good Design Awards
|2015
|-
|Hankook Winter icept evo2 W320
|iF Design Award
|Winner
|2016
|-
|Hankook Ventus Prime3 K125
|Red Dot Design Award
|Winner
|2016
|-
|Hankook Smart Flex AH35
|Red Dot Design Award
|Winner
|2016
|-
|Hankook Kinergy 4S2 H750
|iF Design Award
|Winner
|2019
|-
|Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 K127
|Red Dot Design Award
|Winner
|2019
|-
|Hankook Winter icept evo3 W330
|Red Dot Design Award
|Winner
|2020
|-
|Hankook Winter icept evo3 W330
|iF Design Award
|Winner
|2020
|-
|Hankook Dynapro AT2 RF11
|Red Dot Design Award
|Winner
|2020
|-
|Hankook Dynapro MT2 RT05
|Red Dot Design Award
|Winner
|2020
|}
Hankook also earned several awards for its concept tires. The latest ones are the Hexonic smart tire for autonomous car sharing and the futuristic Aeroflow racing tire for motorsport competition. In 2019, both tires won the US-based [[International Design Excellence Awards]] (IDEA).
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website|http://www.hankooktire.com/global}}
{{Finance links
|name= Hankook Tire & Technology
|google= 161390:KRX
|yahoo= 161390.KS
|bloomberg= 161390:KS
|reuters= 161390.KS
}}
{{Finance links
|name= Hankook & Company
|google= 000240:KRX
|yahoo= 000240.KS
|bloomberg= 000240:KS
|reuters= 000240.KS
}}
{{KOSPI 200}}
{{Automotive industry in South Korea}}
{{Portal|Companies|South Korea}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hankook Tire and Technology}}
[[Category:Tire manufacturers of South Korea]]
[[Category:Chemical companies of South Korea]]
[[Category:Auto parts suppliers of South Korea]]
[[Category:Automotive companies established in 1941]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Korea Exchange]]
[[Category:Companies in the KOSPI 200]]
[[Category:Chaebol]]
[[Category:South Korean brands]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Seoul]]
[[Category:Multinational companies headquartered in South Korea]]
[[Category:1941 establishments in Korea]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies of South Korea]]
[[Category:Companies of Korea under Japanese rule]]