Production resumes at Kumho's tire plant in US

Macon, Georgia – Kumho Tire USA Inc. is reopening its tire plant in Georgia, the company has announced.

The facility in Macon resumed production 5 May, and is scheduled to keep running "with enhanced safety precautions" until 15 May, said a company statement 6 May.

"We will continue to monitor the situation closely, check the production status of our OE partners, and determine whether to keep it open through the end of the month," it added. 

Kumho halted production at the plant 1 April to help curb the spread of Covid-19. The closure later was extended. 

When choosing to halt production, the tire maker said it would rely on production from locations in South Korea and Vietnam to help maintain inventory.

First opened in 2016, Kumho intended for the Macon plant to serve auto makers with North American operations. At the time, the tire maker said that 80% of its business was expected to come from global auto makers operating in the US, Canada and Mexico.