Introducing Inobui, an Electric Vehicle-Only Brand
"One-Third of Global OE Supply to Be Electric Vehicles by 2027
Expanding Factories in Vietnam and China... Considering Investments in the US and Europe
Kumho Tire has introduced 'Inobuy,' a tire brand exclusively for electric vehicles (EVs). The company announced plans to supply more than 30% of its global original equipment (OE) tires for new cars with EV tires within three years.
This figure is based on confirmed supply contracts rather than a target goal. The company also expressed its ambition to establish itself as a leader in the EV tire market by applying HLC (High Load Capacity) technology specialized for the heavier weight of electric vehicles.
On the 15th, Kumho Tire held the launch event for 'Inobuy' at the Korea Transportation Safety Authority's Automotive Safety Research Institute in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, where it made these announcements. Seungbin Lim, Vice President of Sales at Kumho Tire, said, "In three years, one-third of our global OE tire supply will be for electric vehicles," adding, "This number is not a target but the volume of supply contracts already confirmed for models developed as OE."
Jung Il-taek, CEO of Kumho Tire, is answering questions at the press conference for the launch of the electric vehicle-exclusive brand EnnoV held on the 15th. [Photo by Kumho Tire]
As of last year, only 7% of Kumho Tire's OE supply volume was for EV tires. However, this year, 12%, and by 2027, more than 30% of the supply will be allocated to EV tires. To date, Kumho Tire supplies OE tires for electric vehicles from leading global automakers such as Hyundai Kona EV, Kia EV6 and EV9, Volkswagen ID.4, and Tesla rear-wheel-drive Model Y.
Due to the battery weight, EVs exert 20-30% more load on tires compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. Their strong initial acceleration also causes faster tire wear. Additionally, since there is no engine noise, external noise is more noticeable, making tire noise reduction a significant challenge.
Kumho Tire has enhanced quality by applying differentiated HLC technology. Kumho Tire is the first in the industry to apply HLC across all products in its brand. The company uses a tire design structure specialized for high loads and high-strength compounds to improve fuel efficiency. The tire grooves feature a zigzag pattern designed to reduce the lateral force caused by the strong initial torque of EVs and ensure even contact with the ground, thereby reducing wear.
Along with technological prowess, Kumho Tire emphasizes 'cost-effectiveness.' The strategy is to lower prices while maintaining the same quality by optimizing manufacturing expenses, logistics costs, and factory locations. Jiltaek Jung, CEO of Kumho Tire, said, "Our supply volume to Europe has grown more than threefold compared to three years ago," adding, "Our strength lies in supplying products of the same quality at lower prices."
This year, Kumho Tire plans to launch three Inobuy tire models? all-season, winter, and long mileage tires?first in the domestic market. The sales target for these three Inobuy models this year is up to 150,000 units. Kumho Tire will also introduce the Inobuy brand in China, where EV adoption is rapid, to simultaneously target the Chinese market.
Meanwhile, Kumho Tire mentioned expansion investment plans alongside brand growth. Last year, it completed the expansion of its Vietnam plant through joint investment with its major shareholder Double Star, and it has finished investment reviews and placed equipment orders for its China plant. Additional investments for plants in the U.S. and Europe are under consideration.
CEO Jung said, "We are considering four final candidate sites for the European plant," adding, "We plan to start with an initial production volume of 6 million units and expand to 12 million units to meet the supply demands of European automakers."
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