Hankook is now supplying Volkswagen’s Jetta, Jetta SportWagen and New Beetle with its Optimo H725A tires.
While Hankook has factory installations on VW’s in other worldwide markets, company executives report that this development represents a significant increase in fitments on Volkswagens to be sold in the Canada and the U.S., where the Jetta is VW’s best-selling model.
“A high-profile fitment such as this is a great win for Hankook. Along with our ongoing business with Ford, GM and Chrysler, earning this fitment demonstrates that our brand equity is rising with automakers for the all-important North American market,” notes Greg Pae, president of Hankook Tire America Corp.
“This OE business is very complementary with our replacement sales strategy, supplying dealers and consumers with high quality products that deliver a great return on investment,” he says.
Pae points out that the Optimo “is an ideal fit for VW and its exports to the U.S. and Canadian markets because of the product’s capability to deliver a balance of performance, wear, quality and quietness, all of which add to VW’s perception as a high-quality, affordable automaker.”
Drivers will benefit from the tire’s low road noise, which is achieved through advancements in pattern arrangement and computer optimization, he says. For the Optimo H725A in particular, the company utilizes its “Kontrol Technology” platform to improve road performance with an emphasis on vehicle handling.
“By leveraging our ‘Kontrol Technology’ in the development of UHP products, Hankook Tire is able to tailor its products to current environmental sustainability standards, and this in turn allows (the company) to deliver quality products to our consumers,” according to CEO Seung Hwa Suh.
“After working closely with Volkswagen as an OE supplier in other world markets, we have created excellent relationships, and we look forward to earning even more fitments on VW vehicles to be sold in the U.S. and Canada,” says Suh.
Citing Hankook’s global OE involvement with customers such as VW, Suh observes that “despite the current economic climate, I believe that (we) will be able to move forward to build upon the already steady growth of our OE fitment business, which is a vital element to Hankook’s long-term growth strategy.”
He goes on to explain that “our unwavering commitment and efforts toward long-term investment in research and development allows Hankook to deliver high-quality, high-performance tires that capture the attention of OEMs and consumers alike.”
In addition to Volkswagen, Ford, GM and Chrysler, Hankook provides worldwide assembly line installations for Audi, Hyundai, Kia and Navistar.
For more information, visit www.hankooktireusa.com.
