Nexen Tire Signs Official Tire Partnership with Manchester City Football Club

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 7, 2015 /CNW/ -- Nexen Tire, a leading global tire and tube manufacturer, has become an Official Partner of Manchester City Football Club (FC), one of the English Premier League's strongest teams, as a part of the company's sports marketing plan.

On August 6 (local time), Nexen Tire held a signing ceremony for their partnership agreement with Manchester City FC at the City Football Academy in Manchester, England and announced its Official Tire Partnership of Manchester City FC. The ceremony was attended by Ho-Chan Kang, President of Nexen Tire, Ferran Soriano, Manchester City FC CEO, Omar Berrada, City Football Marketing Commercial Director, and other executives from both sides. Manchester City FC players were also in attendance.

This partnership underpins Nexen Tire's rapid expansion into the global market by establishing a strong foothold in the European and global market through active communications with customers. Football fans from Europe and around the world will be able to see Nexen Tire's logo on digital boards whenever Manchester City play at the Etihad Stadium. Moreover, the company plans to execute various marketing activities by utilizing players' portrait rights and sponsorship management.

"We are very pleased to serve as the Official Tire of Manchester City FC, one of the best soccer clubs in Europe. Manchester City FC is the perfect partner for Nexen Tire, considering its position in the league as one of the top-class football clubs with their decisive investment in and recruitment of top stars," said Ho-Chan Kang, President of Nexen Tire.

He also added that, "This will provide us a great opportunity to let customers around the world know about Nexen Tire through the partnership with Manchester City FC, which has numerous fans across all continents. We will strengthen our brand power through continuous sports marketing."

"We are very happy to welcome Nexen Tire as our newest global partner and to welcome President Kang to our home in Manchester. We have millions of followers in South Korea and we will be able to provide them with more engaging experiences. Nexen is not only a well-established South Korean brand, but has a strong ambition to grow globally like we do. This partnership builds a strategic relationship that will enable us both to meet our objectives," said Ferran Soriano, Chief Executive of Manchester City FC.

Nexen Tire provides OE tires to global car makers, including Volkswagen, Fiat, Renault-Daimler and others, and has been strengthening its global presence with a focus on the European market. Starting in late 2015, the company will begin the construction of a new tire manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic, which will feature the most advanced automation systems along with environmentally friendly technologies. Commercial operation is planned to commence in 2018. It is expected to serve as an important manufacturing hub for the company as it seeks to join the world's top tire makers due to its strategic location near the production plants of global car makers.

In addition, Nexen Tire has gained the confidence of European consumers with the outstanding performance and excellent quality of its tires, which have received positive ratings in performance tests from highly renowned automobile magazines in Europe, such as Autobild.

About Nexen Tire

Nexen Tire, established in 1942, is a global tire manufacturer headquartered in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, and in Seoul, South Korea. Nexen Tire, one of the world's fastest growing tire manufacturers, works with 491 dealers based in 141 countries around the world (as of July 2015) and owns three manufacturing plants – two in Korea (Yangsan and Changnyeong) and one in Qingdao, China. Another plant in Zatec, Czech Republic will be operational by 2018. Nexen Tire produces tires for passenger cars, SUVs and light trucks with advanced technology and excellence in design. The company also focuses on producing UHP tires, which are based on advanced technologies. Nexen Tire supplies OE tires to global car makers in various countries around the world. In 2014, the company achieved a grand slam of the world's top 4 design awards for the first time amongst the various tire makers in the world. For more information, please visit http://www.nexentire.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150807/256723

SOURCE Nexen Tire

Burson-Marsteller Korea, Eugene Han, [phone] / [phone], [email protected]; Ayoung Jang, [phone] / [phone], [email protected]; Eunju Lee, [phone] / [phone], [email protected], http://www.nexentire.com