Kumho Tyre has resumed its plan, which had been suspended for six years, to build a production plant in the US, according to the Yonhap news agency.

In 2008, Kumho had planned to set up a plant in Georgia, at a cost of US$165m, to produce 2.1m tyres per year. However, the plan was called off when the company went into a debt workout programme in 2009.

A Kumho official said: “A formal request for funds has been made to creditors, so we need to wait for the results.”