Hankook Tire Group, has changed the name of its holding company and six major subsidiaries to an integrated branding system under Hankook, the company announced May 8.

Holding group Hankook Tire Worldwide has changed its name to Hankook Technology Group, while its flagship company Hankook Tire changed to Hankook Tire & Technology.

Five other subsidiaries also changed the name to include the word Hankook, such as AtlasBX, a storage battery manufacturer, that changed to Hankook AtlasBX.

Hankook Tire Co., the group’s flagship affiliate, will be renamed Hankook Tire & Technology. The company will focus on securing future-oriented innovative technologies to lead Korea’s automotive industry.

In addition, other affiliates will change their names in line with the group-level move. AtlasBX will be renamed Hankook AtlasBX; MK Technology, Hankoook Precision Works; Em Frontier, Hankook Networks; Daehwa Industrial Machinery, Hankook Engineering Works; and HK Automotive, Hankook Car & Life.

The move is said to be an effort to redefine itself into a technology-focused group. The decision to include the word “technology” reflects the group’s long-term mission to achieve innovation through advanced technologies amidst the “fourth industrial revolution” the company explained.

Also, through integrated branding, the group expects increases in brand value and strengthening of competitiveness for subsidiaries that previously held names that did not contain the word Hankook.

Meanwhile, Model Solution, a digital prototype company, is the only subsidiary under the group excluded in the name change in order for the company to operate its business independently.

The move is said to be an effort to redefine itself into a technology-focused group. The decision to include the word “technology” reflects the group’s long-term mission to achieve innovation through advanced technologies amidst the “fourth industrial revolution” the company explained.

Hankook Tire announced that it continues its collaboration with Ford Motor Company by supplying the new 2019 Ford Ranger with two original fitments for the iconic midsize pickup.

The Ranger will come standard with Hankook Tire’s Dynapro HT [Pattern RH12], with the available option of the more off-road focused Dynapro AT-m [Pattern RF10]. The Dynapro HT is a premium highway all-season tire optimized for longer tread wear and improved snow traction, and features a wider footprint for better grip under all driving conditions.

Available with the Ford Ranger’s FX4 Off-Road Package is the Dynapro AT-m, an aggressive, all-terrain tire designed to enhance the Ranger's already impressive off-road capabilities. With a tougher pattern design and block structure, the Dynapro AT-m guards against cuts and impacts from sharp objects, in addition to a reinforced carcass and rubber gauge to improve hill climbing and stability both on and off the road.

The Ranger sports great approach and departure angles making it a desirable choice to off-road and rock-crawling enthusiasts. In addition to upgraded rubber by way of the Dynapro AT-m tires, the available FX4 Off-Road Package also comes with off-road-tuned shocks and suspension, rear locking differential, and four distinct drive modes to help conquer a variety of different terrains.

Ford Motor Co. and Hankook Tire have collaborated with their respective products since 1999. Among the Ranger, Hankook Tire also supplies tires for the F-150, as well as the Ford E-Series trucks.