Hankook Tire to more than double production, becoming largest private employer in Clarksville

By Chris Smith December 7, 2023 11:53 am

Clarksville Now Courtesy Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board

The planned expansion, in white above, of the Hankook Tire plant in Clarksville. The existing facility is in gray.

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Hankook Tire has moved up its expansion plans, announcing this week that it will double its production – and the number of employees – over the course of the coming year. Once the expansion is complete, Hankook will be the largest private employer in Clarksville.

“What’s going to happen next I truly think will put Montgomery County and Clarksville and Hankook on the map as one of the largest employers – one of the most productive tire companies in the world,” Hankook North America Chief Operating Officer Rob Williams said at a Clarksville Industrial Association meeting on Thursday.

Hankook COO Rob Williams announces expansions at the Clarksville plant on Dec. 7, 2023. (Chris Smith)

“We’re going to be more than doubling our capacity. That will make us the fastest-growing tire company from a production standpoint in North America,” he said. “The investment is huge, not only in dollars but in human capital. That’s what I’m the most proud of, is that we’ll be more than doubling the work force here in Montgomery County and Clarksville.”

After the meeting, Williams provided more details to Clarksville Now, explaining that the tire manufacturer will implement both its Phase 2 and Phase 3 expansions by the end of 2025 or early 2026. Hankook previously said it would move up its Phase 2 expansion, and this week’s announcement adds Phase 3 to the mix.

The plant currently moves about 5 milion units a year. Phase 2 will add a production line for another 5 million consumer tires. Phase 3 will add a production line for medium commercial truck tires. Hankook will also be building another distribution center at the plant, Williams said. When all is said and done, the plant will produce a total 11 million units per year.

Hankook, located at 1950 International Blvd., currently has about 1,100 employees in Clarksville. After the expansions, it will employ over 2,200.

These expansions exceed what was promised when the Hankook plant was first announced 10 years ago in October 2013, and they will make Hankook the largest private employer in Clarksville, exceeding the 2,000-employee workforce at Trane.