Nexen Tire Wins First BYD OE Tire Deal

NEXEN TIRE has secured its first OE supply partnership with BYD, providing tires for the SEAL 6 and Dolphin Surf across export markets in Australia and Europe.

NEXEN TIRE will supply original equipment (OE) tires for two BYD models, the SEAL 6 and the Dolphin Surf, in its first OE partnership with the Chinese automaker. The South Korean tire maker said the agreement extends its supply to BYD across separate global export markets. SEAL 6 units exported to Australia and other markets will be fitted with the N’FERA Sport, NEXEN’s ultra-high-performance summer tire, while Dolphin Surf units bound for Europe will run the N’Blue S high-efficiency summer tire.

Highlights

  • NEXEN TIRE’s first OE supply partnership with BYD covers two models, the SEAL 6 and the Dolphin Surf.
  • SEAL 6 units exported to Australia and other markets are fitted with the N’FERA Sport ultra-high-performance summer tire.
  • Dolphin Surf units bound for Europe use the N’Blue S, which NEXEN says reduces rolling resistance to meet tightening EU carbon emission regulations.

What Tires Do the BYD SEAL 6 and Dolphin Surf Use?

The two fitments differ by model and destination market.

BYD ModelNEXEN TirePrimary Export Market
SEAL 6N’FERA Sport (UHP summer)Australia and other markets
Dolphin SurfN’Blue S (high-efficiency summer)Europe

The SEAL 6 is a strategic model BYD has developed for global export. According to NEXEN, the N’FERA Sport delivers high-speed stability and handling and has performed well in European tire tests. For the Dolphin Surf headed to Europe, NEXEN says the N’Blue S minimizes rolling resistance while improving drainage and wet braking at higher speeds, and has been selected as OE on a range of European vehicles and EVs.

NEXEN’s First Step With BYD

NEXEN said it expects the agreement to raise its standing among global EV automakers. Since it began selling OE tires to overseas automakers in 2012, the company has become an established supplier to major global automotive manufacturers, including premium European brands.

“Becoming an OE supplier for two BYD EV models demonstrates both our technological range and our quality competitiveness, as we can deliver optimized performance for both electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles,” said John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO of NEXEN TIRE. “We will continue to strengthen our partnership with BYD moving forward.”

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