CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP/CLARKSVILLENOW) — Fresh off a trade mission to drum up more business from Asia, Gov. Bill Haslam attended the grand opening of South Korean tiremaker Hankook’s new plant in Tennessee.
Hankook broke ground on the $800 million plant in Clarksville in 2014. The company later announced it would move its North American headquarters from New Jersey to Nashville, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the new factory.
“I’m just so proud and happy that Hankook Tire put its faith and trust in our community and decided to build its first North American production plant right here. That says so much about the quality and character of our community,” Mayor Kim McMillan said. “From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank Hankook Global CEO Seung Hwa Suh and his entire company for choosing to make this huge investment in Clarksville. It’s clear you’ve done a great job building this new plant. Congratulations!”
The Clarksville plant is Hankook’s eighth worldwide. The plant’s first phase will produce 5.5 million tires annually. The plant has already brought nearly 1,000 jobs to the local economy, a total that is expected to climb to 1,800 as infrastructure expands. In addition, Hankook moved its American headquarters to Nashville last year and hired more than 100 local employees.
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