Our History
From its humble beginnings in 1941 as Korea’s first tire company, Hankook Tire has grown into the sixth largest tire company in the world, one that continues to create new possibilities and overcome new challenges.

Hankook Tire Becomes a Leading Global Tire Company
Leading the driving industry through high-tech preeminence.

As part of the 80th Anniversary of our founding in 2021, we started building production facilities in Chongqing, China, and Bekasi, Indonesia, greatly strengthening our capacity for growth. In addition, Hankook Tire was named the official tire for Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) in Germany, the largest motorsports competition in the world, and began the groundwork for yet another research center with technologically advanced equipment in 2014.
For the future, our aim is to reinforce our global competitiveness by strategically investing in a skilled labor force to expand R&D. Fostering creative and competitive personnel is also a goal at Hankook Tire as we strive to continuously do our part as a member of global community and grow in tandem with the world.
We are proud of our 80 years of history, and are paving the way for the future with a commitment to create new possibilities and overcome challenges that lie ahead. With our customers and society always in mind, our aim is to contribute to the development of the driving experience worldwide.
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2011
Signed DTM sponsorship in Germany
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2011
Celebrated our 70th anniversary
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2011
Groundbreaking ceremony for plants in Chongqing, China, and in Indonesia
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2012
Began supplying OE tires for the new BMW 3 series
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2012
Became the official sponsor for the UEFA Europa League
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2013
Signed the MOU to build a new central research center
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2013
Hankook Tire Indonesia grand opening
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2013
Extended official DTM partnership ahead of schedule
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2013
Chosen as original equipment supplier for New Mercedes-Benz S-Class
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2013
Signed MOU with the state of Tennessee
for U.S. plant -
2014
Groundbreaking ceremony for new R&D Center, HANKOOK TECHNODOME in Deajon, Korea
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2014
Groundbreaking ceremony
for Hankook Tire's Tennessee Plant
in Clarksville, U.S -
2015
Extended the premium original equipment supply to SUV Tires on Porsche 'Macan'
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2015
Boostrac concept tire' Wins the prestigious Red Dot: Luminary Award
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2015
Succeeded High-speed Driving without Air Pressure 'Hankook iFlex'
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2016
Selected as original equipment supplier for the all new BMW 7 Series
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2016
Signed a sponsorship agreement with Real Madrid C.F.
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2016
Opened the company's new central research and development center, Hankook Technodome
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2017
Opening of Technotrac, a test center for winter tires in Europe
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2017
Grand opening of Tennessee Plant in the U.S.
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2018
Included in Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for three consecutive years
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2018
Acquired German Premium Tire Distributor ‘Reifen-Müller’
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2018
Signed an Official Sponsorship for Major League Baseball
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2020
Moved headquarters to “Technoplex” in Pangyo, Gyeonggi-do
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2020
Signed Formula E sponsorship from 22/23 season
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2020
Began supplying e-tyres for Porsche Taycan electric sports cars
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2020
Included in Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI) for the fifth consecutive year
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2021
Supplying OE tires
for Porsche 718 models -
2021
Celebrated our 80th anniversary
-
2021
Supplying Audi's first all-electric sports car 'e-tron GT'