Nexen Tire has published its first sustainability report, which outlines the company’s sustainable practices and environmental, social, and economic performance in 2019. Nexen Tire’s 2019/20 Sustainability Report is based on standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), and has been verified by the Korea Management Registrar (KMR), a third-party assurance institution.
Much has changed at Nexen Tire of late, a phenomenon particularly noticeable within the South Korean tyre maker’s European operation. In the past two years, the company has set up a new production facility in the Czech Republic and a European headquarters in Germany as part of its ‘Global Nexen’ strategy. This expansion is occurring parallel to similar growth in Korea and the USA.
Dutchman Edwin van der Stad has been appointed as vice president OE Europe at Nexen Tire. Van der Stad brings 30 years of experience and premium level OE management with him to the Korean tyre manufacturer. Prior to joining Nexen, van der Stad spent many years with Bridgestone. Van der Stad’s new role took effect in March.
Tyre manufacture at Nexen Tire’s Changnyeong plant in South Korea resumed yesterday after a two-day break in production in order to implement “protective measures” against coronavirus. In disclosures submitted to the Korea Exchange (KRX), the tyre maker reported its intention to suspend tyre production in Changnyeong on 1 and 2 March, and resume operations on 3 March.
The latest global tyre market share figures from tyre industry analyst Astutus Research show how long-established, leading players headquartered in Japan, Europe, and North America have seen their volume share diminish, while Chinese, ASEAN, and selected other markets’ tyre manufacturers’ share has risen. The analyst states that in aggregate, the ten leading PCLT tyre manufacturers based in Japan, Europe and North America (J-E-NA) have lost almost 6 percentage points of market share since the end of 2011 (OE and replacement segments combined, volumes in tyre units). In part this reflects a strategic choice of some to focus on the higher value premium segments of the market.
Nexen has held its second Nexen Point Driving Experience in association with UK distributor Stapleton’s at Palmersport Autodrome in Bedfordshire, UK. The key draw at the 5 September 2019 event, which was attended by around 70 tyre dealers, was the presence of the new N’blue 4Season.
Michael Haupt, formerly a tyre development specialist at Porsche, has been appointed head of the ‘Premium OE’ business sector at the recently-opened Nexen Central Research Institute (Nexen univerCITY). In his new position, Haupt will be responsible for creating premium tyres for OEM customers.
Nexen Tire has extended its sponsorship deal with German football club Eintracht Frankfurt through to the 2021/22 season. With the newly extended contract, Nexen Tire enjoy visibility at the Bundesliga club’s home stadium including in broadcast feeds, perimeter boards and commercials.
An official opening ceremony is being held today for Nexen Tire’s new tyre factory in Žatec, Czech Republic. Numerous dignitaries have attended the event, including Petr Očko, the country’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Travis Kang, Nexen Tire’s global chief executive officer, and Byung-Joong Kang, the company’s chairman.
Last season’s engagement with ‘domestic treble’ winner Manchester City F.C. gave Nexen Tire abundant exposure. The tyre maker returns again in 2019/20 as an Official Partner, its fifth season with the club and its third as Sleeve Partner. The current season got underway with a 5-0 win against West Ham last Saturday.
You have to get up early to fool a Tyrepress.com reader. A couple of weeks ago we asked who could correctly identify five winter tyres with remarkably similar tread patterns – and most respondents could.
Directional or v-shaped treads offer several advantages on wet and snow-covered roads. Such patterns provide good levels of traction and also effectively remove water from the contact patch, thus offering stability and protection against aquaplaning. These characteristics make directional patterns an obvious choice for winter and all-season tyres, and it’s no surprise that the v-shaped tread is well-represented in these segments.
Nexen Tire
NRZ/Arno Borchers
Alexander Migl; Wikimedia CCAS 4.0
Nexen
