Hankook Tire to bring T-station to China

Hankook Tire announced on April 13 that the company will bring to China its ripe comprehensive service program (T-station), which aims to open 300 service stores within the next five years. The move will shake Michelle Tire's market position in Chinese alternative tire market.

Hankook will directly invest in ten of the total stores and others will be sponsored by voluntary dealerships. Currently there are already more than 20 tire agencies entering into negotiations with Hankook, including some from Pirelli Tire. The company told reporters that dealerships of other brands are also seeking opportunities to sell Hankook brand tires.

The first T-station authorized dealer has opened days ago at Shanghai with a total investment of 25 million Yuan and covering a land area of 730 square meters.

Hankook Tire is the seventh largest and one of the fastest growing tire manufacturers in the world, but the company's market share in China has exceeded that of Michelle, Goodyear and Bridgestone. Hankook Tire OEM customers cover all ranges of complete vehicles and the company will start to provide tires for Audi A6L as well as A4 assembled in Shenyang city, Liaoning province. Further cooperation talks with BMW are already underway.