Hankook Tire began construction of its first (and only) tire making plant in Europe in the village of Rácalmás, near Dunaújváros, 75 km south of Budapest.
Considered at the time to be “the most technologically advanced facility in the world”, according to Seong Hak Hwang, the current managing director, the plant has since more than tripled in size.
Since the self-sealing tires allow continued driving in the event of a puncture, this eliminates the need to change tires on the road side, and vehicles equipped with these advanced tires no longer need to carry spares.