BYD and Hankook partner up to release the T4K electric truck on radial RA08 rubber  

BYD select Hankook tyres to carry the ambitions of its T4K electric truck, launching on the RA08 tyres. Neither are afraid to dream big, so can this collaboration propel their successes into the future?

No stranger to the largest EV market in the world; Hankook already supply original equipment to Chinese market offerings including the NIO ES6 (don’t worry, you’re not expected to have heard of them), and Toyota's all-electric debut, the bZ4X.

BYD may not be on tip of your tongue when it comes to vehicle manufacturers either, but they could be the ideal amplifier for Hankook’s charge to strengthen its already sturdy foothold in China. The Chinese brand now holds the title of the world's largest EV company, increasing its ‘new energy’ vehicle sales by an impressive 62% to reach 3 million units in 2023, enough to topple Tesla from its lofty perch atop the market. 

Hankook will join this climb to the top through BYD’s ‘one-tonne’ electric truck, the T4K. This flatbed-esque hauler runs on the innovative Blade-LFP Battery (fun fact: it really does look like a blade) which has passed the ‘Mount Everest’ of durability trials, the equally sharp-titled ‘nail penetration test’. BYD also touts the T4K’s “extended driving range and enhanced safety” — and as they are comfortably sat within the world’s top three largest EV battery manufacturers, we’ll assume they know what they are up to.

So why has Hankook opted for the RA08 to drive this union forwards? Well, thanks to its aggressive zig-zagging grooves, this van and transporter tyre can provide “strong traction to stably support the vehicle's load”, ensuring consistent deliveries, no matter what the weather throws its way. Matching the energy of BYD’s battery tech, this tread pattern also has the wear resistance required to journey far and wide, resulting in tyres that go further, and last longer.

And Hankook isn’t stopping there. This collaboration with BYD is just one part of a far bigger picture: an overarching strategy to use its “state-of-the-art” technology to cement its position, not only as a premium tyre provider across the globe, but as a pioneer in the world of EV rubber. It may no longer appear on the rear badging of BYD vehicles, but it seems the ‘Build Your Dreams’ slogan is one which Hankook is keen to put into practice.

Although we have seen other BYD vehicles like the Atto 3 roam over into the British market, the Chinese manufacturer’s one-tonne truck has, so far, only made it as far as Korea. With no plans yet been announced to bring the T4K to the UK, would you like to see it imported onto home soil with complimentary Hankook rubber?

Hero image credit: Hankook