BENTONVILLE, Ark.—Walmart Inc. has honored Giti Tire (USA) Ltd. with a U.S. Manufacturing Award that recognizes offshore suppliers that have initiated production in the U.S. of goods sold by the Bentonville-based retailer.
Walmart presented Giti officials with the award on Jan. 31 at the Walmart Supplier Growth Forum in Bentonville.
The award recognizes Giti for the opening of its first U.S. plant, in Chester County, S.C., last year.
The plant, which is expected to employ 1,700 at full capacity, produces Dextero-brand car tires for Walmart alongside its own GT Radial brand.
Walmart said it is committed to supporting local communities and creating jobs by purchasing an additional $250 billion in U.S.-manufactured, -assembled and -grown goods by 2023.
"We are thrilled to now be manufacturing American-made tires for American consumers," said Julianto Djajadi, executive vice president of business operations for GITI Tire (USA), who accepted the award on behalf of the tire company.
"This award is an acknowledgement of a great team effort, demonstrating Giti's commitment to the North American market."
Singapore-headquartered Giti Tire Group invested $560 million to build the 1.7 million-sq.-ft. plant in rural South Carolina.
Walmart has sold Dextero-brand tires in the U.S. since 2012. Giti plans to shift that supply steadily to the Richburg plant from the Indonesian plant of its P.T. Gajah Tunggal affiliate, starting with the DHT2 and Touring DRT1 passenger lines, company officials said last October.