Nexen tires on EV 'skateboard' startup Canoo

Richfield, Ohio — Nexen Tire Corp. has secured an OE supply position with Canoo Inc., a Los Angeles-based company that's developing a new electric-vehicle platform designed for the emerging shared/autonomous transportation sector.

Founded in December 2017, Canoo sees vehicle development moving away from the traditional three box car design of separate compartments for the engine, passengers and luggage.

Instead it embraces a "minimalist" skateboard-type design that maximises interior space.

Canoo has stated its first vehicle — due on the market in 2021 — will have the exterior footprint of a compact car, with the interior space of a large SUV.

Canoo's "skateboard" architecture will house a battery and electric drivetrain that it claims will be able to achieve a range of up to 300 miles. 

Nexen has developed an EV-optimised version of its Roadian GTX grand touring tire for the Canoo project, that incorporates Canoo's requirements for puncture resistance, rolling resistance, handling, weather and safety, the company said in a recent Twitter post.

At the Consumer Electronics Show 2020 in Las Vegas, a Canoo chassis was on display with the tires fitted, in size 195/55R20. 

The EV version of the GTX was designed in part at Nexen's US tech center in Richfield, which opened in late 2019.