Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) has announced plans to move forward with the third phase of expansion at its Clarksville, Tennessee, manufacturing plant. This expansion will include the introduction of truck and bus radial (TBR) tire production facilities, marking the company’s first TBR production base in the United States. The move is expected to create between 500 to 1,000 new jobs in the region.
According to industry sources on the 14th, Hankook Tire will begin the third phase of expansion at its Clarksville plant by the end of this year. The company is currently finalizing the second phase of expansion, which focuses on passenger car and light truck (PCLT) tires, and will immediately proceed with the third phase. This marks the first time the timeline for the third phase has been confirmed.
Hankook Tire is in discussions with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and other administrative authorities to finalize incentives, including subsidies, for the expansion. The project is expected to significantly boost local employment, with the creation of hundreds of new jobs.
Rob Williams, CEO of Hankook Tire North America, recently confirmed the expansion plans during the Technology and Maintenance Council 2025 (TMC) event held in Nashville, Tennessee. He stated, “We will begin the third phase of expansion by the end of the year,” highlighting the company’s commitment to growing its U.S. operations.
The third phase will focus on establishing TBR production facilities, a strategic move to diversify Hankook Tire’s global production portfolio. Williams also mentioned the expansion during the launch event for Hankook’s fifth-generation TBR tires, underscoring the significance of this development. Industry analysts note that this will be Hankook Tire’s first TBR production base in the U.S., marking a major milestone for the company.
The Clarksville plant, which began operations in April 2017, currently produces high-performance tires, passenger car tires, and light truck tires, with an annual production capacity of 5.5 million units. Following the completion of the second phase of expansion, the plant’s annual output is expected to increase to 11 million units. Once the third phase is completed in the first quarter of next year, the plant’s total annual production capacity will reach 12 million units, including 1 million TBR tires.
Hankook Tire plans to complete a fourth phase of expansion in the future, which will bring the plant’s total annual production capacity to 22 million units. This would account for 20% of the company’s global production, solidifying its presence in the U.S. market and further contributing to job creation in Tennessee.
The expansion reflects Hankook Tire’s commitment to strengthening its foothold in the U.S. while supporting the local economy through job growth and increased manufacturing capabilities.
