Kumho Tire

Is Kumho Tire publicly traded?
Yes, Kumho Tire is publicly traded on the Korea Exchange under ticker 073240. The company's largest shareholder is Qingdao Doublestar Group, which acquired a 45% stake in 2018 for approximately $607 million. In February 2026, Doublestar received final approval to absorb this stake. The remaining shares are held by institutional investors and the public.

Who owns Kumho Tire?
Kumho Tire's largest shareholder is Qingdao Doublestar Group, a Chinese tire manufacturer listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Doublestar acquired a 45% stake in 2018 for approximately $607 million after Kumho's former parent, Kumho Asiana Group, collapsed financially. In February 2026, Doublestar received final regulatory approval to absorb the stake, valued at $708.2 million. Despite Chinese ownership, Kumho maintains operational independence with management based in Seoul.

When was Kumho Tire founded?
Kumho Tire was founded in 1960 by Park In-chun in Seoul, South Korea. The company began as a domestic tire manufacturer and has grown into one of the world's top 10 tire manufacturers by production volume, with over 68 million tires produced annually and distribution to over 180 countries.

What is Kumho Tire's revenue?
Kumho Tire reported revenue of approximately KRW 4.1 trillion ($2.9 billion) in 2024. The company produces over 68 million tires annually across manufacturing facilities in South Korea, China, Vietnam, India, Mexico, and the United States.

Does Kumho Tire make electric vehicle tires?
Yes, Kumho Tire has developed specialized tires for electric vehicles. These tires feature enhanced load capacity to support heavier battery weights, optimized rolling resistance to maximize range, and reinforced sidewalls to handle instant torque delivery. The technology also focuses on reducing road noise to compensate for the lack of engine noise in electric vehicles.

What are Kumho Tire's main product lines?
Kumho's main product lines include the Majesty Solus (premium touring), Crugen (SUV and crossover), Ecsta (ultra-high performance), Road Venture (all-terrain and off-road), and specialized EV tires. The company offers warranty coverage of 60,000 to 85,000 miles on most consumer products.

Where is Kumho Tire headquartered?
Kumho Tire is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. The company's corporate offices and primary strategic operations are based in Seoul, while manufacturing facilities are located in South Korea (Pyeongtaek, Gokseong, and Gwangju), China (Tianjin and Nanjing), Vietnam, India, Mexico, and the United States.

Kumho Tire was founded in 1960 by Park In-chun in Seoul, South Korea. The company began as a domestic tire manufacturer serving the Korean automotive market. Through the 1960s and 1970s, Kumho expanded its production capacity and began exporting tires to international markets.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Kumho grew into a global tire manufacturer. The company invested in new manufacturing facilities, expanded its product range, and established distribution networks across Asia, North America, and Europe. Kumho became one of the top 10 tire manufacturers globally by production volume.

Kumho Tire was part of Kumho Asiana Group, a South Korean conglomerate with interests in transportation, construction, and petrochemicals. The group also owned Asiana Airlines. However, Kumho Asiana Group faced severe financial difficulties following the 2008 financial crisis. The group entered a debt workout program in 2009, and Kumho Tire was put up for sale as part of the group's restructuring.

The sale process was complex and prolonged. Multiple potential buyers expressed interest but withdrew. In 2018, Qingdao Doublestar Group, a Chinese tire manufacturer, acquired a 45% stake in Kumho Tire for approximately $607 million. The acquisition made Doublestar the largest single shareholder, though Kumho remained publicly traded on the Korea Exchange.

Under Doublestar ownership, Kumho returned to profitability. The company focused on high-end tire production, EV-specific tires, and expanding its presence in North America and Europe. Between 2019 and 2025, Kumho invested in R&D for electric vehicle tires, advanced materials, and digital manufacturing processes.

In February 2026, Doublestar received final regulatory approval from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange to officially absorb its 45% stake in Kumho Tire, valued at $708.2 million. This created a combined entity positioned among the global top 10 tire manufacturers, with Kumho serving as the premium brand and Doublestar focusing on value segments.

Kumho Tire has implemented environmental initiatives including sustainable material sourcing, energy-efficient manufacturing, and waste reduction programs. The company has invested in reducing the environmental impact of tire manufacturing, which is energy-intensive and involves petroleum-based materials.

The company's EV tire technology contributes to sustainability by reducing rolling resistance, which extends vehicle range and reduces energy consumption. Kumho has also developed tire compounds using sustainable materials including silica derived from rice husk waste.

Kumho maintains a supplier code of conduct and conducts audits of its manufacturing facilities. The company operates plants in multiple countries with varying labor and environmental standards. Manufacturing facilities in South Korea are subject to Korean labor and environmental regulations, while plants in China, Vietnam, and India are subject to local regulations.

The company has faced scrutiny over environmental emissions from tire manufacturing, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter. Kumho has invested in emission control technologies at its manufacturing facilities.

Kumho Tire's most significant controversy was the financial collapse of its former parent company, Kumho Asiana Group. The group entered a debt workout program in 2009, and Kumho Tire was put up for sale. The prolonged sale process, which lasted nearly a decade, created uncertainty for employees, suppliers, and investors. The eventual acquisition by Doublestar in 2018 was controversial in South Korea, where the sale of a major Korean manufacturer to a Chinese company drew political and public criticism.

The Doublestar acquisition raised concerns about technology transfer and intellectual property. Kumho's tire technology and R&D capabilities are valuable assets, and the transfer of technology to a Chinese parent company has been scrutinized by Korean regulators and industry observers. However, Kumho has maintained operational independence and its R&D operations remain based in South Korea.

Kumho has faced product recalls over the years, including recalls related to tire defects and manufacturing quality issues. These recalls have drawn regulatory scrutiny from transportation safety authorities in South Korea, the United States, and other markets.

The company has faced environmental scrutiny over emissions from its manufacturing facilities. Tire manufacturing involves petroleum-based materials and energy-intensive processes, and Kumho has had to invest in emission control technologies to comply with environmental regulations in South Korea and other countries.