- “NEXIST” and “CELLEXIS” recognized for pioneering mobility concepts
- Innovative designs highlight solutions for emerging urban mobility challenges
SEOUL, South Korea, September 29, 2025 – NEXEN TIRE, a leading global tire manufacturer, announced it has received two Finalist honors at the 2025 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) for its future-oriented concept tires, NEXIST and CELLEXIS.
The IDEA Awards, organized by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), rank among the world’s top three design competitions, assessing entries on innovation, usability, aesthetics, and social impact.
NEXEN TIRE’s two honored concepts embody forward-looking solutions to the transportation limits of high-density urban environments, advancing mobility concepts engineered to optimize efficiency and ensure reliable transportation in rapidly evolving metropolitan areas.
NEXIST represents a forward-looking solution for future cities where road space is expected to shrink. Designed for fully autonomous Urban Air Mobility (UAM) with vertical take-off capabilities, it delivers lightweight performance through advanced carbon composite materials while preserving the intuitive form of a tire.
CELLEXIS embodies a modular public transportation concept tailored to the unique needs of megacities. Inspired by the form of a red blood cell, its spherical structure integrates omni wheels arranged in four directions, functioning simultaneously as tires, docking systems, and entry points. This innovative design enables faster transfers and reduces dependence on private vehicles.
Both concept tires were developed in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Design Promotion (KIDP), an organization under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea. For NEXEN TIRE, concept tires represent far more than a design exercise. They serve as a platform to showcase technological advancement, design excellence, environmental values, and the company’s long-term vision. NEXEN TIRE has continued to advance its concept tire projects in cooperation with leading Korean universities and institutions, earning IDEA Awards for recent three years (2022, 2023, and 2025).
In addition to this recognition, NEXEN TIRE also earned major global design awards in 2025, including the Red Dot Design Award for the Winguard Sport 3 and the North American Green Good Design Award for the N’FERA Sport R and N’BLUE 4Season 2, further underscoring its competitiveness in innovative design.
“This award is a testament to our philosophy and innovative efforts to deliver differentiated experiences that resonate globally,” said John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO of NEXEN TIRE. “We will continue to develop designs and technologies that bridge the present and future of mobility.”
