Moving forward in its expansion plans, South Korea’s Kumho Tire says it will set up its first European manufacturing plant in Poland’s Opole region. It added the US$590 million factory is scheduled to begin initial operations in 2028, subject to investment approval and licensing. Kumho plans to produce 6 million units/year in the first phase and expand capacity to cope with demand.
The company has been evaluating multiple European locations, including Poland, based on logistics, labour availability, infrastructure, market access and investment incentives. It added that Opole was selected as the optimal site owing to supply-chain stability within the EU and the region’s supportive operating conditions.
Europe accounts for about a quarter of global tyre consumption and is home to several major automotive manufacturers. The region represented roughly 26.6% of Kumho’s sales last year. The company has previously relied on exports to serve European customers, which it said limited its competitiveness in the market.
The new plant is intended to strengthen Kumho’s ability to supply high-value-added products, including high-performance and larger-diameter tyres, to European vehicle makers.
Kumho currently operates eight production sites across South Korea, China, the US and Vietnam, with combined annual output of 65 million units. The Polish plant will complete what the company describes as a production network spanning Asia, Europe and North America.