Hankook Tire has unveiled its brand-new medium- and long-term development plan for 2030. Centering on overseas capacity expansion, smart factory upgrades, EV tire R&D and premium brand building, the brand has set clear quantitative targets to secure a top-tier position in Europe and North America and seize a leading position in the new energy tire segment.
I. Four Quantitative Targets from the Brand’s 2025 ESG Sustainability Report
Hankook’s 2025 ESG report outlines distinct targets covering revenue, production capacity, regional market performance and technological prowess under its medium- and long-term strategy:
Overall Scale Target
By 2030, achieve annual sales of $13 billion (equivalent to €11.3 billion) to rank among the world’s top five tire manufacturers; lift global market share to 6.5% and expand total annual production capacity to 150 million tires.
Overseas Market Layout Target
Deepen presence in core overseas markets of Europe and North America to become a leading local brand. Accelerate localized production support, optimize regional supply chains, cut supply costs and boost market responsiveness.
Brand & Technology Positioning Target
Build a premium brand identity. Sustained R&D investment will push the brand into the global top three tire makers in comprehensive technological strength.
New Energy Tire Special Target
Prioritize EV tires as a core growth track, with a goal to claim the No.1 position in the global EV tire market within the next five years.
The brand’s overarching development vision is clear: consolidate its core tire business, ramp up cutting-edge technology R&D, drive industrial chain-wide innovation, refine its premium brand portfolio, and evolve into a world-class enterprise leading the future automotive industry.
II. Major North American Capacity Layout: Tennessee Plant Expansion Delivers Hankook’s First Full-Scale US TBR Production Line
North America serves as Hankook’s core growth hub to climb the ranks of leading overseas tire brands, and the upcoming expansion of its Tennessee plant stands as a cornerstone of this regional strategy.
The plant will add an annual production capacity of 1 million truck and bus radial (TBR) tires, marking Hankook’s first fully operational large-scale TBR manufacturing line in the United States.
Leveraging the new production line, the brand will launch its 5th-generation AL52, DL52 and TL52 commercial tires tailored for North American long-haul transportation. Integrated with the brand’s latest proprietary technologies, the tires are engineered to fit the region’s heavy-load long-distance road conditions.
The plant expansion paired with the new commercial tire lineup will strongly back the brand’s premium development roadmap and further grow Hankook’s market share across the United States.
III. Global Smart Factory Overhaul: AI Digital Infrastructure to Support 150-Million-Tire Annual Capacity Target
To meet its 2030 target of 150 million tires per year, Hankook is rolling out full digital and AI-powered upgrades across its global smart factory network.
Workshops are equipped with IoT sensors, AI predictive equipment maintenance systems and fully automatic machine vision inspection devices. These tools enable early equipment fault detection to minimize production downtime and ultra-precise tire defect inspection to cut reject rates. An intelligent scheduling system connects data from all global manufacturing sites to accurately forecast market demand and optimize raw material warehousing and cross-regional logistics coordination.
Hankook currently operates eight production bases across South Korea, China, the United States, Hungary and Indonesia, with an existing annual capacity exceeding 100 million tires. Future expansion of its Hungary and Tennessee overseas facilities will fill gaps in localized production capacity for Europe and North America.
IV. Focus on Electrification to Build Differentiated Tire Competitive Edge
EV tires are designated as a top-priority business segment for the next five years, with the brand striving to claim the global No.1 spot.
The brand’s iON all-electric passenger tire series has secured original equipment (OE) matching certifications from numerous high-end automakers worldwide, including Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen and BYD. Multiple variants have also obtained certifications for sustainable raw materials. The brand has additionally launched the eSmart line of electric commercial vehicle tires, balancing heavy-load bearing capacity with extended vehicle driving range to cover all-electric passenger and commercial vehicle applications.
The landscape of the global tire industry is undergoing rapid reshuffling, with Europe, North America and EV supporting tires emerging as key battlefields for leading manufacturers. Hankook advances on four parallel fronts: overseas factory expansion, AI intelligent manufacturing, new energy tire R&D and premium brand upgrading. Its clearly defined strategy with actionable implementation paths means future shifts in its overseas commercial tire and EV tire market share merit continuous industry attention.
