85 years of Hankook: From Korean pioneer to one of the world's leading tire manufacturers
Founded in 1941 as the first Korean tire company – today a global premium supplier
Approximately 20,000 employees and eight production sites on five continents
Europe is the most important sales market, accounting for around 45 percent of global sales.
Neu-Isenburg, Germany, June 1, 2026 – 85 years of innovation, quality, and growth: Premium tire manufacturer Hankook celebrates its anniversary. What began in 1941 in Korea as a small industrial company called "Chosun Daiya Industrial" is today one of the world's leading tire manufacturers – with eight production sites on five continents, around 20,000 employees, and a presence in more than 160 countries. Hankook now comprises seven regional headquarters, five development centers, and 39 local branches.
Leading car manufacturers rely on Hankook
85 years of technological development have made Hankook a sought-after tire partner for original equipment. The company currently maintains 50 OEM partnerships worldwide with leading automotive manufacturers – many of them in Europe. In its anniversary year, Hankook received special recognition: The trade magazine Auto Bild named Hankook "Top Manufacturer 2026" in the summer tire category, based on outstanding results in several tire tests.
Motorsport partners on the big stage
Hankook also plays a significant role in motorsport. As the exclusive tire supplier and official technical partner of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Hankook demonstrates that high performance and sustainability are not mutually exclusive. Since 2025, Hankook has also been the exclusive tire supplier for another FIA World Championship, the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). In addition, it serves as the technical partner and exclusive tire supplier of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series. Since the beginning of the year, Hankook has further underscored its strategic importance in international motorsport as a Global Partner of the FIA, thus deepening its close collaboration with the governing body. The shared goal is to promote innovation, sustainability, and safety in motorsport and future mobility.
Sustainability as a growth engine
For Hankook, this anniversary year also represents progress towards a more sustainable future of mobility. In 2025, the company received the highest rating of "A" in the "Climate Change" category of the Carbon Disclosure Project's (CDP) Leadership Rating for the second year in a row. With the iON GT, Hankook launched the first EV tire with a triple-A rating from the EU tire label in 2024 – comprised of up to 77 percent ISCC PLUS-certified sustainable raw materials. The "Net Zero by 2050" target is defined in accordance with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and is being pursued rigorously.
A record business year as a basis
Hankook's strength in its anniversary year is based on a solid foundation: In 2025, Hankook achieved consolidated sales of KRW 21.22 trillion (approximately EUR 13,189.8 million) and an operating profit of KRW 1.8425 trillion (approximately EUR 1,146.2 million). In the tire business, sales amounted to KRW 10.3186 trillion (approximately EUR 6,419.2 million), an increase of 9.6 percent compared to the previous year. This marked the first time since its founding that Hankook had exceeded the KRW 10 trillion mark in annual sales.
Consistent further development at our European location
Hankook currently employs nearly 4,000 people in Europe, generating around 45 percent of its total revenue there. Hankook has been producing in Europe since 2007 and broke ground on the expansion of its Hungarian plant in February 2025. By 2027, a new production line for truck and bus tires with a capacity of up to 800,000 units per year will be built. The total investment amounts to €540 million. The new building will create 450 additional jobs at the site.