NEXEN TIRE, a renowned tire manufacturer headquartered in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, and Seoul, South Korea, has recently made waves in the industry with the unveiling of their sustainable-material demonstration tire. Composed of an impressive 52 percent sustainable materials, this tire stands as a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to sustainability. With a rich history spanning 71 years since its establishment in 1942 as Heung-A Tire Company, NEXEN TIRE continues to lead the way in innovation and environmental consciousness within the tire manufacturing sector.
Furthermore, NEXEN TIRE announced that it had been named the top tire brand for South Korea’s 2023 Global Customer Satisfaction Competency Index (GCSI). The company had held the first rank for fourteen consecutive years. The GCSI research institution, organized annually by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade Industry and Energy (MOTIE), evaluated factors such as customer satisfaction, consumer values, global competitiveness, and brand loyalty to select the top companies.
The tire maker’s experts used current and emerging technologies to engineer sustainable tires for vehicles, creating the demonstration tire. Furthermore, the tire was built with more than 52 percent sustainable materials, contributing to the company’s goal of expanding the use of sustainable raw materials.
The demonstration tire was made up of 44 percent renewable materials, including natural rubber, bio-based synthetic rubber, and silica derived from rice husk waste residue. Another significant feature of the demonstration tire was that it consisted of 8 percent recycled materials, utilizing polyester cord formed from recycled plastic PET bottles and bead wire derived from scrap iron using an electric arc furnace.
A representative at NEXEN TIRE stated, “This research demonstrated our commitment to becoming one of the most forward-thinking tire companies in terms of ESG. We looked into new technologies and identified opportunities for the future. As a result, our team’s dedication demonstrated our ability to produce a tire with 52 percent sustainable raw materials. NEXEN TIRE’s innovation in building a better future continues.”
NEXEN TIRE’s recognition came from its ‘Next Level’ program, a tire rental service launched in 2015, which was a first in the Korean tire industry. Under the ‘Next Level’ program, customers could visit nearby auto shops for regular tire condition and air pressure checks. In addition, in 2020, the company became the first in the domestic industry to implement ‘Next Level GO,’ a contactless installation service. This premium service dispatched tire experts equipped with cutting-edge equipment to the location of the customer’s vehicle to replace tires.
The Company also implemented a “new luxury guarantee system” for its high-end N’fera series, which exchanged tires to ensure safe driving. The ‘Next Level’ rental service continued to provide premium customer satisfaction services, utilizing a “free guarantee system” that replaced tires free of charge, even in the event of damage or premature wear caused by consumer negligence.
NEXEN TIRE intended to improve customer convenience by continuously developing and expanding consumer-oriented services.