- First in the Korean tire industry to adopt a High Dynamic Driving Simulator, enabling virtual driving environments
- Increased precision in tire development by incorporating VR and AI technologies to support electrification and high-performance vehicle demands
SEOUL, South Korea, August 27, 2025 – NEXEN TIRE, a leading global tire manufacturer, today announced that it has established a state-of-the-art High Dynamic Driving Simulator at its central research institute, THE NEXEN UniverCity, in Magok, Seoul, and held an opening ceremony to mark its official launch. This is the first time a High Dynamic Driving Simulator has been introduced in the Korean tire industry and represents a key turning point in advancing tire research and development with VR and AI technologies.
The High Dynamic Driving Simulator is an advanced system that simulates real-world conditions in a virtual environment. By applying vehicle specifications and parameters as if operating on actual roads, the system enables testing of acceleration, steering response, braking, and other performance metrics in a variety of driving conditions.
With the adoption of this simulator, NEXEN TIRE expects to minimize unnecessary trial-and-error, reduce prototype production and real vehicle testing, and accelerate innovation while cutting costs. By replacing costly and time-intensive physical road tests with virtual evaluations, engineers can conduct more precise tire development within limited space and in various conditions.
The simulator will also allow NEXEN TIRE to more swiftly and accurately meet original equipment (OE) performance requirements from global automakers. In particular, it is expected to strengthen collaboration in developing tires for new concept and high-performance vehicles. Furthermore, reduced reliance on prototypes and physical testing will contribute to lowering fossil fuel use and support the company’s ESG commitments.
Global automakers are rapidly transitioning to virtual development processes to shorten development cycles and improve cost efficiency. Major European premium brands already apply driving simulators in their virtual test and development (VTD) processes, while Korean automakers are also advancing their virtual vehicle development capabilities. Industry experts forecast that most leading automakers will soon institutionalize virtual development processes and significantly reduce the frequency of physical tests.
Building on this milestone, NEXEN TIRE plans to gradually establish a Full Virtual Development Process that integrates finite element method (FEM) analysis and AI technologies, with the long-term goal of replacing all tests with simulation-based validation.
“Ahead of the industry trend toward virtual development of vehicles and tires, the establishment of our High Dynamic Driving Simulator is a strategic investment to lead the future mobility sector,” said John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO of NEXEN TIRE. “By combining VR and AI technologies, we will enhance both the efficiency and precision of our R&D while contributing to ESG management, thereby strengthening our global competitiveness.”
