Hankook to build f irst North American plant

CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee (AP):South Korean tyre maker Hankook announced yesterday that it will build its first North American plant in Tennessee, creating 1,800 jobs.

Hankook, the world's seventh-largest tyre maker, said it will build the $800 million facility in Clarksville. Construction on the 1.5 million-square-foot facility is scheduled to begin by the end of next year, and it will begin making high-end performance tyres in 2016.

Seung Hwa Suh, Hankook's vice-chairman and CEO, called the construction of the United States plant "the next natural phase for our continued growth". He said the decision to locate in Tennessee was the result of a year of discussions with state officials, and he cited the central location and existing auto industry as major factors.