**Global Strategy in the ‘Trump Era’**
Cho Hyun-beom, chairman of Korea & Company Group, has emphasized the implementation of a global strategy this year with a focus on strengthening the nation’s core technological capabilities and responding to the uncertainties of the second Trump administration era.
Korea & Company Group announced on the 26th that Chairman Cho highlighted this message during a recent management innovation meeting, regional strategy meetings, and a group global strategy review meeting at the Technoplex headquarters in Pangyo, Seongnam City. At the meeting, Chairman Cho called for multifaceted and proactive measures to directly tackle the ‘Trump era,’ including expanding local production of tires and batteries in the United States. This is in light of President Trump’s mention of a possible 25% tariff on automobiles and parts starting next month, signaling a focus on addressing global risks.
Hankook Tire is pursuing plans to more than double production at its Tennessee plant. The current annual production capacity of 5.5 million units is set to be significantly increased to 12 million units this year. With the global automotive industry shifting towards electrification and large SUVs, the strategy is to maintain market leadership through the supply of Ion, the world’s first electric vehicle-specific tire, and high-performance tires.
Korea & Company is also focusing on attacking the North American market this year, with lead-acid batteries positioned as the group’s future growth engine. In addition to expanding production capacity through the Tennessee plant expansion, the company’s developed lead-acid battery, the ‘Premium AGM Battery,’ will increase production to 5 million units by 2030.