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Coatings

Innovative Solutions for Future Cars

BASF is one of the global leading suppliers for Automotive OEM coatings globally. As a product and process innovator, we offer sustainable and technologically advanced surface solutions to drive future mobility.

Our broad portfolio includes products for all different layers: e-coat, primer, basecoat and clearcoat. Our know-how ranges from trend research and color design to the chemistry and development of the final paint. At the same time, we work closely together with our customers to optimize the processes in their paint shops.

Nearly all automakers and automotive suppliers are our customers. They trust our competence and years of experience. Our customers are at the center of all that we do. Global presence, close partnerships and our custom solutions are the keys to their success, and ours. Learn more about our products and innovative surface solutions on the following webpages. 

Electric vehicles, self-driving cars and ride-sharing concepts will change the concept of mobility and the face of our streets. At the same time, sustainability is a core value that we share with our customers. Together with our partners we address the challenges of today and tomorrow. 

Our Competencies at a Glance

  • High quality products for all coating layers     
  • Outstanding expertise in application technology
  • Leader in color design
  • Broad range of customer service
  • Custom solutions

Latest News

GLASS tool enables optimization of cost, performance and ecological footprint.
More transparency
Automotive OEM Paintshops

More transparency

Reducing the ecological footprint towards CO2 neutrality is a significant goal for many industries and value chains, including the coating and pre-treatment processes of the automotive industry. The GLASS tool allows to analyze the environmental impacts of all essential components throughout the application process.
Press Release
BASF Color Report 2023 for Automotive OEM Coatings
Shifting achromatic colors
Color Report 2023

Shifting achromatic colors

The old, standard automotive color wheel is changing: While white continues to hold its position as the most popular color for light passenger vehicles, it has seen a notable decrease in market share. In contrast, black has surged in popularity, gaining market share at the expense of white.
Global Color Report
ON VOLUDE 2023-2024 AUTOMOTIVE COLOR TRENDS.png
ON VOLUDE
Automotive Color Trends 2023-2024

ON VOLUDE

Each year, designers for BASF’s Coatings division create a new collection of colors to inspire automotive designers around the globe. This year, non-human intelligence was a strong driver for the creation of the ON VOLUDE collection from Automotive Color Trends by BASF for 2023-2024.
Our new color collection
Aerial view of the Technology Comptence Center in Marchamalo (Guadalajara), Spain.
New Technology Center
BASF Española

New Technology Center

BASF Española inaugurated its new Technology Center in Marchamalo (Guadalajara). This center is dedicated to researching and replicating the painting process of any vehicle manufacturer. The facility serves more than 100 automotive factories on different continents.
  1. Press Release
  2. Video
From left to right: Jeffrey Jones (BASF Vice President, OEM Coatings North America and Global Key Account Manager for GM), Nils Lessmann (BASF Senior Vice President, Coatings Americas), Tommy Hosea (GM Executive Director, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain Central Operations), Deb Young (BASF Head of HR, Coatings Americas) and John Van Antwerp (BASF Global Account Manager, OEM Coatings North America)
GM Award
Supplier of the Year

GM Award

General Motors (GM) has recognized BASF as a 2022 Supplier of the Year.  The award recognizes global suppliers that distinguish themselves by exceeding GM’s requirements, and providing innovative technologies at some of the highest quality in the automotive industry. This is the 16th time BASF has received the award.
Press Release
Jan Peter Bredehoeft, Senior Vice President, Operations & Site Management Greater China, BASF and Hongmei Yang, General Manager of Shanghai Huayi Fine Chemical Co., LTD unveiled the Technical Center Building.
Technical Center Building 
BASF Shanghai Coatings

Technical Center Building 

BASF Shanghai Coatings (BSC) announced the opening of its new technical center building at the BSC Minhang site. As one of the key highlights of the Minhang extension project, the launch marks another milestone. With the brand-new outlook, BSC will better serve automotive OEM customers in China. 
Press Release
BASF‘s ColorBrite® Airspace Blue ReSource basecoat, certified through a biomass balance approach.
Debut in China
Biomass Balance Approach

Debut in China

BASF’s ColorBrite® Airspace Blue ReSource basecoat, certified by REDcert² according to a biomass balance approach, made its debut in China. This is the first time BASF’s biomass balance automotive OEM coatings were introduced to Asia since the official launch in Europe in May of this year.
Press Release
Light but robust parts made of Elastoglex® and Elastocoat®. contribute to the long lifespan of the car. You can literally stand on roof and hood.
Breaking new ground
oli [all-ë] - Citroën concept car

Breaking new ground

Together with Citroën, BASF joined the journey to a new fully electric car concept: oli [all-ë]. Less is more! The car was painted with the the latest generation of waterborne coatings. For the interior, the concept car used NovaCoat-P, a waterborne coating for flexible substrates that provides additional protection against abrasion, UV, chemicals and dirt.
Products & Solutions
Technical center for electrophoretic dip coating at BASF Coatings' headquarters in Münster.
New application center
Electrophoretic dip coating

New application center

BASF Coatings has inaugurated a new  application center for electrophoretic dip coating at its headquarters in Münster-Hiltrup, Germany. The electrophoretic or cathodic dip coat (e-coat) protects the surfaces, edges and cavities of a car body against corrosion, and evens out the roughness of the pre-treated metal surfaces.
Press Release
Work mechanical arm
Solution for Ford Valencia
Gardostrip® technology

Solution for Ford Valencia

BASF supplies Ford Valencia with the CathoGuard® E-Coat. The coating process requires the electrodeposition tank to be in optimal cleaning conditions. To achieve this while at the same time making a step towards sustainability in its processes, Ford introduced the Gardostrip® technology – a highly efficient paint cleaning technology.
Press Release
Expanding of the Automotive Coatings Application Center
Application Center in India
Automotive Coatings

Application Center in India

BASF has expanded its Automotive Coatings Application Center in Mangalore, India. As an integral part of BASF’s existing research and development (R&D) facilities for automotive coatings solutions, the facility covers over 400 square meters of floor area and is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.
Press Release
Car with paint made from renewable raw materials
Sustainable coatings
Biomass balance approach

Sustainable coatings

The BMW Group is the first OEM to use BASF paints certified according to the biomass balance approach. Reducing fossil resources and using more sustainable raw materials minimizes the carbon footprint.
Press Release
AUVOT Sportif virtual car shape in Gagnamagnid Gold
Driving Color Design

Driving Color Design

What colors will you see on the road in three to five years? That’s the vision the BASF design team offers automotive OEM customers through expertise in trend research and the design and creation of bold, unique colors.
Get inspired