JEDDAH – Hankook Tire, the seventh largest and one of the fastest growing tire companies in the world, has announced that two of its popular products in Saudi Arabia, Optimo ME02 and Optimo ME04, will be sourced from the newly constructed manufacturing plant in Cikarang, Indonesia starting from 2013. Following the completion of Hankook Tire's state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Indonesia, the company will produce the majority of volume for Optimo ME02 and Optimo ME04, two of the best-selling tires in Saudi Arabia. Previously manufactured at the Daejeon and the Geumsan plants in Korea, Indonesia's new Cikarang plant will manufacture the two models in 2013, which will also allow for room to increase production depending on the increasing demand in the Middle East region. Hankook Tire's Cikarang plant in Indonesia will boast the company's global standard for quality. They are built with the latest tire manufacturing equipment at four major production facilities in the area covering a total of 60 hectares. “Hankook Tire applies our advanced and cutting-edge tire technology consistently across all of our seven manufacturing plants in the world, and we are glad that Saudi Arabian customers will be able to enjoy our superior products directly from Indonesia” said Kwang-Jin Chi, Vice President of Global Sales Department at Hankook Tire. “In addition to this, we will continue to search for ways to enhance the premium driving experience and deliver products that take advantage of the unique road conditions in the region.” Saudi Arabian customers will be able to experience the same superior quality faster than ever due to the geographical proximity between the two countries, commented Mr. Marwan Bin-Shihon Vice President of Bin-Shihon, Group of Companies, exclusive distributor of Hankook Tire in Saudi Arabia. By expanding its production capabilities for the region, Hankook Tire also hopes to gain more market share and maintain it No. 1 market position. Hankook Tire's newly constructed manufacturing facility in Cikarang, Indonesia is the company's seventh plant worldwide, joining the existing two in South Korea, one in Hungary and three in China. With the total investment up to $1.1 billion by 2018, the plant has recently started its initial production in September 2012 and is now set to act as an export base as well as the regional business hub of the company, exporting as much as 80% of its production to the US, the Middle East and Australia. About Hankook Tire Co., Ltd Hankook Tire (Vice Chairman & CEO: Seung Hwa Suh) is the seventh largest and one of the fastest growing tire manufacturers in the world. It produces innovative, superior quality and high performance radial tires for passenger cars, 4x4s, SUVs, light trucks, campers, trucks, buses and motorsports. Aspiring to bring consumers the utmost excellence in quality and driving satisfaction, Hankook Tire invests approximately 5% of its revenue in research and development through its five global R&D centers. Hankook Tire products are currently available in over 180 countries and the company employs 18,000 people worldwide. — For more information, please visit Hankook Tire's global web site at www.hankooktire.com.
