[THE INVESTOR] Hankook Tire, South Korea’s largest tire maker, will supply Original Equipment tires for Ford’s C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid, the company said on Sept. 6.

Hankook Tire will install its Enfren Eco model for C-Max Energi OE tires -- which refers to tire equipped on a new vehicle when they come from the factory.

Enfren Eco, which received high energy efficiency rating, is an eco-friendly tire that minimizes energy loss while maximizing performance to deliver high fuel efficiency, the company said. 


“We will develop a strong partnership with Ford, Hankook Tire’s first OE business partner, and grow together,” the company said in a statement.

Hankook Tire, beginning with Ford’s Transit truck in 1999, has supplied tires to the automaker’s other models, including Explorer SUV, F-150 truck, Fiesta sedan and Mustang sports car. In 2013, it clinched a supply deal with German luxury carmakers Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi for the first time among local tire makers.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)