Tire Business (via European Rubber Journal) reports that Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. has postponed plans to establish a $318 million truck and bus tire plant at its existing car tire factory in Rácalmás, Hungary. The project was announced in March 2018 and involved the construction of a separate plant to produce 550,000 medium and heavy truck/bus tires per year. The postponement does “not mean the cancellation of that plan,” Hankook said in a written statement to ERJ on Oct. 2.
The current economic downturn, especially in the automotive industry, was a factor behind the decision, said Felix Kinzer, head of communications at Hankook Tire Europe. The tire maker, he added, is undergoing “mediations” with various stakeholders for future execution of the plan, which would mark the site’s fourth round of expansion. “Our company has a mid- to long-term plan for truck tire sales growth on the European continent and is reviewing various options,” Mr. Kinzer said.