Hankook Tire has devoted its 72 - year history solely to tire making . The nation ’ s first and largest tire maker , which produces some 90 million tires every year , has grown into the world ’ s seventh - biggest tire manufacturer today . Last year , when global tire makers were struggling slowing sales , Hankook Tire was the only one among the top 10 that posted robust growth . Between 2008 and 2012 , the company saw its global sales increase by an annual average of 15 percent . Last year , it logged 7 . 291 trillion won ( $ 6 . 7 billion ) in sales , almost doubling from those in 2008 . The company aims to enter the global top five by 2015 . Hankook Tire paved the way for global expansion starting with its first exports to Pakistan in 1962 . Following the establishment of its first Middle East branch in Kuwait in the 1970 s , the company extended the number of regional offices to 18 in the 1980 s , taking advantage of increased trade , low exchange rates and cheaper oil at the time . Currently , Hankook Tire operates four head offices in China , Europe and the United States with 29 local branches marketing its tires in some 180 countries . More recently , the company is stepping up efforts to seek future growth engines in emerging markets . In 2009 , the company established an office in Egypt as a regional base to enter Egypt and other North African markets . It is also seeking new sales sources from regions such as the Commonwealth of Independent States and South America . The relentless expansion and strong growth have been largely driven by the company ’ s continuing emphasis on research and development efforts since its establishment back in 1941 . In the 1970 s , Hankook Tire ’ s research center started with a small lab where only 35 researchers used to work day and night . Later , a full - fledged research center was established in Daejeon , some 164 kilometers south of Seoul , in 1982 . The company invests about 5 percent of its sales every year into R & D , while it has research centers set up in six countries including Korea , China , Germany , Japan and the United States . Each research center develops tires that are optimized to respond to different weather and road conditions from individual regions . They also work on premium products ranging from ultra - high - performance tires for motor sports to environment - friendly , next - generation tires . In January , the company announced the expansion of its Korean research center in partnership with the London - based Norman + Partners , an architectural firm founded by renowned architect Norman Foster . In collaboration with him , a new seven - story building will be built on the 99 , 174 - square - meter site to accommodate futuristic facilities such as automatic tire storage and smart information systems . Hankook Tire , the first Korean company to start tire production more than seven decades ago , is now working together with the five major global carmakers ― General Motors , Volkswagen , Toyota and Renault - Nissan and Hyundai Motor Group . Its global partnerships sped up in the 1990 s when the company shifted the focus of its marketing strategy from the domestic market to overseas markets . Until then , the company largely focused on elevating product quality , realizing the importance of value - added management to make the next business leap . Following the first order from Volkswagen Mexico in 1991 , the company signed a deal with U . S . - based Ford Motor in 2003 , stepping up efforts to expand its presence in the United States . The company , whose tires are already favored by Audi and Mercedes - Benz at the German auto racing DTM , also became the first Korean tire maker to provide original tires to BMW ’ s News 3 Series in April last year . “ Hankook Tire is one of the fastest - growing tire makers in the world as it has continued investment for balanced growth , ” said CEO Suh Seung - hwa , who took office in 2007 . “ We will strengthen our status as a global premium brand that is equipped with cutting - edge technologies and quality products . By Lee Ji - yoon ( jylee @ heraldcorp . com ) [ Hot News ] ◆ Park takes helm ◆ Economic democratization overshadows inauguration ◆ Welfare , public safety focus of Park ’ s agenda ◆ Where have we seen it before ? ◆ British teen dies in fall from ski lift