GGM Says "No Production Disruption Despite Kumho Tire Fire"

"7,000 Tires in Stock, Supplies Secured from Gokseong Factory"

A fire helicopter is circling above to extinguish the fire on the 18th, the second day of the fire at Kumho Tire Gwangju Factory. Photo by Yonhap News

Amid concerns over tire supply due to the Kumho Tire fire, Gwangju Global Motors (GGM) announced that there will be no disruption to its production.

According to GGM on May 18, after reviewing potential supply issues related to the fire at the Kumho Tire Gwangju Factory, the company concluded that there would be no impact.

GGM stated that it currently holds a total inventory of 7,000 tires: 2,000 units of 15-inch tires for electric vehicles, 2,000 units of 17-inch tires for electric vehicles, and 3,000 units for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

The company also explained, "We are continuing to receive normal supplies of Kumho Tire products produced at the Gokseong Factory, not the Gwangju Factory."

Meanwhile, a large fire broke out at the Kumho Tire Gwangju Factory, which supplies tires to multiple automakers, at around 7:11 a.m. the previous day, resulting in a complete halt to production. Even after the fire was extinguished, it is expected to take at least several months to restore the equipment that was destroyed in the blaze.