Kumho Tire celebrated the opening of its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Macon, Georgia, in the United States, on Monday that will help expand the tire-maker’s presence in North America, said company officials.

About 300 people including Kumho Asiana Group chairman Park Sam-koo, Kumho Tire CEO Lee Han-seob, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, and Macon Mayor Robert Reichert attended the opening ceremony of the facility that was completed early this year after its construction began in 2008. 

Boasting an annual production capacity of 4 million tires that will gradually increase to 10 million, the facility which cost $450 million is equipped with a cutting-edge system to boost product quality and manufacturing efficiency.

The Georgia plant will mainly manufacture large tires for passenger cars and ultrahigh performance tires, of which 80 percent are expected to be sold to global automakers in North America.

“We believed a production base on this crucial continent is a must if we are to significantly expand our presence in the market in our bid to become a top tire manufacturer,” said chairman Park.

Because North America is the world’s largest tire market with a 22 percent market share, Kumho Tire strategically built its manufacturing plant in southern U.S., home to manufacturing facilities of global automakers, said company officials.

By Lee Seo-young (seoyounglee@heraldcorp.com)