"The significant success of the Laufenn brand in just two years demonstrates the market appeal for a high-performance global tire brand that meets the needs of sensible drivers," Hankook Tire America President Hee Se Ahn said in a company statement. Hankook sources the Laufenn brand from its factory in Bekasi, Indonesia, thus avoiding the elevated import duties the U.S. imposes on consumer tires from China. Denlein noted that adding the Laufenn brand "has brought us new dealers that we just couldn't penetrate for a variety of reasons. "It's a full line so it's really complemented us," he added, "and it hasn't eroded in terms of the Hankook business at all. That was a worry for us...." Launching Laufenn was part of Hankook's strategy to strengthen the Hankook brand into more of a premium brand. Is that actually happening?