Kumho Tire is currently investigating the circumstances of the fire at its plant in Gwangju, South Korea. In a stock exchange statement, the company says it is working to minimise losses “through prompt accident recovery.” The fire that broke out on Saturday is reportedly now largely contained and is expected to be completely extinguished today.
Kumho Tire has announced its preliminary performance for the first quarter of 2025 with consolidated sales of KRW 1.2062 trillion (£633.3 million / €745.1 million) and operating profit of KRW 144.8 billion (£76.0 million / €89.4 million). First – quarter sales grew 15.5 per cent year-on-year, with Kumho calling this the best performance in the company’s history. Driving this sales growth was an expansion of original equipment tyre supply and the combined growth of replacement market tyres, including high-margin products.
Kumho Tire has extended its original equipment business with Volkswagen Group with supply to the VW Tiguan and Cupra Terramar. It will deliver the Kumho Ecsta PS71 SUV for fitment on the Tiguan in sizes 215/65 R17 and 235/55 R18, while the Terramar will wear the PS71 in 235/55 R18.
Kumho Tyre is well pleased with the ‘exemplary’ rating its Kumho Ecsta PS71 gained in the Auto Bild 2025 summer tyre test. It earned the motoring publication’s top rating when tested in size 225/40R18, finishing joint fourth from a total of 52 candidates. Auto Bild particularly praised the Ecsta PS71 for its outstanding performance in dry and the best result in wet conditions.
During a visit to the snows of Northern Sweden, Kumho Tire showed off its latest winter range and confirmed its sales and marketing strategies for 2025. Il-taik Jung, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kumho Tire, was present and told customers attending from throughout the region that the company will “work relentlessly” this year to enhance its brand value in the European market.
Two new ultra-high-performance products have joined the Kumho Ecsta line-up in European markets. Ecsta Sport and Ecsta Sport S build on the strengths of predecessor models the Ecsta PS91 and PS71, with the Sport S sitting a rung higher on the performance ladder. Kumho bills this as a “super sport tyre.”
Sydney-based rugby league club Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs has named Kumho Tyre its Official NRL Men’s Head Coach Partner and Official Tyre Partner. The two-year partnership will not only see the Kumho Tyre logo adorned on NRL Head Coach Cameron Ciraldo’s gameday attire but also engage with the Bulldogs’ community through the Game Changers Road Safety Program, with a focus on educating students on the importance of road safety.
Kumho Tire has expanded its sports sponsorship activities in Europe by signing up as a premium sponsor of French rugby club Stade Toulousain. The South Korean tyre maker has committed itself for a three-and-a-half-year period, from the 2024-2025 to the 2027-2028 seasons. Under the sponsorship deal, player kits will feature the Kumho logo, and it will also appear on LED screen boards during matches at home stadium Stade Ernest-Wallon, on the team’s website as well as social media channels. Additionally, Kumho will work with Stade Toulousain to organise joint events and conduct promotional activities.
Ecovadis has awarded Kumho Tire Gold in its Ecovadis Sustainability Rating. This places the tyre maker within the top five per cent of companies evaluated.
A new multi-year partnership with basketball team Atlanta Hawks will see Kumho Tire U.S.A. gain an in-arena and broadcast presence with its “local” team. The partnership begins this season and additionally covers social activities and community engagement events, including supporting charitable causes as well as opportunities to recognise and honour local citizens as honorary “captains” of the NBA team for an evening.
At a meeting with local government officials on 13 November, Kim Hyun Ho, General Director of Kumho Tire Vietnam, informed that the Kumho Tire subsidiary intends to invest US$300 million to increase the plant’s passenger car and light truck tyre production capacity by 4.5 million units a year, to a total annual capacity of 17 million tyres. This 36 per cent capacity increase, phase 3 of expansion at the 2007-opened plant in Binh Duong Province, will bring total investment in the facility to $908 million.
In what may well be a tyre industry first, Kumho Tire has debuted as a musical artist on Spotify. The Korean tyre maker proudly announces the release of its own song, which it says forges “a unique connection between mobility and music in an entirely new way.”
Kumho Tire has announced a new partnership with Löwen Frankfurt, becoming the official partner of the German ice hockey team from the start of the forthcoming season in mid-September. The collaboration will see the tyre manufacturer prominently featured at the team’s home rink, the Eissporthalle Frankfurt, enhancing its brand visibility and regional engagement.
Korean tyre manufacturer Kumho Tire has entered into a three-year strategic partnership with German football club Eintracht Frankfurt. This collaboration aims to bolster Kumho Tire’s visibility and brand image, encompassing advertising within the stadium, hospitality packages, and collaborative social media initiatives. In addition to supporting the men’s team, Kumho Tire will also back the Esports team, with joint campaigns planned alongside EintrachtTech.
Kumho Tire its participating in this year’s The Tire Cologne exhibition with a revamped stand spanning 408 square metres. Positioned at Hall 6, Stand A030/B039, the company is set to showcase its comprehensive portfolio featuring the Kumho and Marshal brands, providing visitors with an immersive experience to explore the latest advancements across the car, SUV/4×4, van, and truck segments.
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