14 How are new colors being developed? Every color begins with a clear briefing – sometimes from an automaker, sometimes from our own trend research. The design teams of the OEMs define the purpose of the color, whether for a specific model, a global platform, or a niche edition. Early prototypes are created in styling labs and increasingly through digital visualization tools such as our virtual vehicle models AUVOTs. From there, the color is refined layer by layer: pigments, effect materials, and layering determine depth, brilliance, and character. At the same time, in close collaboration with the color lab, we ensure that the tone can be produced consistently worldwide, meets process stability requirements and supports repairability and environmental standards. This interplay between design ambition and technological feasibility is central to BASF Coatings’ role as mediator between creative intent and industrial reality. Please let us know how new colors may look like in the future? Looking ahead, our global design team identifies several emerging directions. Following the ascent of green, warmer neutrals – especially contemporary brown shades – are gaining relevance. These tones are lighter, more vivid, and more emotional than the browns of past decades. Gray will also continue its rise, evolving with new effects and nuanced depth. Overall, the future palette will be more individual, more nature-inspired, and more diverse, driven by cultural shifts, sustainability, and new mobility concepts. At the same time, digital tools and advanced pigments will enable even more refined and technologically sophisticated shades. BASF Coatings www.basf-coatings.com BASF Color Report 2025 for Automotive OEM Coatings Future mobility in color: How new shades define automotive design Interview with Mark Gutjahr, global head of Automotive Color Design at BASF Coatings As global preferences shift and mobility transforms, automotive color becomes an even more strategic design tool. In an interview, Mark Gutjahr, global head of Automotive Color Design at BASF Coatings, explains how trends emerge, which color is currently rising and how new shades are created years before they hit the road. What is the importance of automotive color that makes you develop new shades every year? Mark Gutjahr: Color is far more than a decorative detail – for many OEMs it is a strategic design element. It shapes brand identity, emotional appeal and product differentiation. Consumers often make subconscious decisions based on the first visual impression and color plays a decisive role in this moment. As mobility transforms and design becomes a stronger differentiator, manufacturers rely increasingly on expressive colors to communicate innovation and character. We have recently announced an expanded collaboration with Xiaomi, supporting the automaker’s plan to co-develop 100 car paint colors over the next three years. For our annual Automotive Color Trends® collection, our design team analyzes longterm cultural and technological trends and translates them into futureproof color concepts. These shades must meet strict aesthetic, technical, and production demands, often years before they reach the road. Let’s stay in the presence: How does the global color distribution look like and do you see any cultural differences? The BASF Color Report for Automotive OEM Coatings analyzes the color preferences on both global and regional levels. Our latest Color Report shows a clear shift in global preferences. Green has become one of the most important chromatic colors in automotive industry, with relevance in all markets globally. It ranks among the top three in the chroma color scheme worldwide, while blue and especially red continue to decline. In the achromatic spectrum, gray gains further ground with a more diverse appearance, while white slightly decreases, and black remains stable, though often enhanced with metallic or pearl effects rather than pure solids. Regionally, differences are pronounced: Europe gravitates toward sophisticated grays and blues and increasingly embraces greens; Asia Pacific continues to favor whites and tech-inspired metallics; North America shows growing openness to chromatic tones, including blues, reds, and greens. These variations reflect cultural values, climate, market structure, and vehicle size. Images: © BASF Coatings Global overview of the automotive color distribution in 2025.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjUzMzQ=