Nexen Tire lands first BYD supply deal, stepping up EV push

Nexen Tire said Monday it has secured its first original equipment tire supply deal with Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, accelerating its push into the global EV market.

The company will supply OE tires for BYD's electric sedan Seal 6 and compact electric vehicle Dolphin Surf. The deal marks Nexen Tire's first OE win with BYD, and the company said it expects the partnership to strengthen its position in the global EV OE market.

The Seal 6 will be fitted with the Nfera Sport, a high-performance summer tire designed for sporty handling and high-speed stability. The tire will be used on vehicles exported to Australia and other markets, and has earned strong ratings in major European tire performance evaluations.

The Dolphin Surf will be equipped with the Nblue S, a high-efficiency summer tire for vehicles exported to Europe. The product features reduced rolling resistance for improved energy efficiency, along with enhanced wet braking and drainage performance.

The Dolphin Surf is sold in China under the name Seagull. Time magazine named the vehicle one of its Best Inventions of 2025.

"Securing OE supply for two BYD models demonstrates our technological capability and quality competitiveness — delivering optimal performance from a single tire regardless of whether the vehicle is electric or combustion-powered," a Nexen Tire official said. "We will continue to deepen our partnership with BYD going forward."

Meanwhile, Nexen Tire has steadily expanded its OE customer base since landing its first overseas automaker deal in 2012, adding Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Stellantis and Volkswagen to its roster. On June 15, the company announced it would supply the Nfera Supreme S OE tire for the facelifted version of Hyundai Motor's flagship sedan, the new Grandeur.

Nexen Tire also supplies OE tires for a range of electric vehicles including the Hyundai Motor Ioniq 6 and Nexo, and Kia models from the EV3 through the EV9, building its competitiveness in the electrification market.