RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — Kumho Tires Co., Inc., a leading Korean tire company, signed an agreement to build a $225 million tire manufacturing facility on a 127-acre site in Sofkee Industrial Park in Macon, Georgia.
Kumho officials said the first phase of the plant will cost $165 million and will have an annual production capacity of 2.1 million tires. The plant's second phase will cost $60 million and will raise the plant's total annual capacity to 3.1 million tires. The plant will initially employ approximately 400 people in the first phase and a total of 450 people when the second phase is competed.
The 5.5 million square foot plant will produce passenger car and light truck radial tires for the original and replacement equipment markets in the U.S.
When the first phase of the U.S. plant comes on line at the end of 2009, Kumho expects the company's annual global production capacity to be 77 million tires. The second phase of the U.S. plant is slated to be completed in 2011.
The company expects to break ground on the first phase of the plant in May.
