Coatings
BASF’s Coatings division offers innovative and ecologically viable solutions for the automotive industry, including both the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and refinish markets, as well as surface treatment solutions for a variety of markets. BASF also develops and markets decorative paints in Brazil for interior and exterior use in residential and commercial buildings. The portfolio is supplemented by “Beyond Paint” solutions, which enable new applications with innovative surfaces. We combine protection and aesthetics with eco-efficiency in tailor-made products and processes.
Sales by region 2022 (location of customer)
Sales by direct customer industry 2022
Automotive OEM coatings solutions
BASF provides complete automotive coatings solutions, including a product portfolio of:
- E-coats
- Primers
- Basecoats
- Clearcoats
In addition to offering extensive technical support, BASF is a valued innovation and design partner for nearly all leading automotive manufacturers worldwide.
Automotive refinish coatings solutions
For the refinishing of passenger cars and trucks, BASF offers topcoat and undercoat materials sold under the global premium brands Glasurit® and R-M® as well as the value-for-money brands baslac®, LIMCO®, Norbin® and Yinfan®, which are sold to paint distributors and automotive repair shops. BASF is a leader in the fields of waterborne coatings and high-solid systems, enhanced by value-added services and tools for end users.
Decorative paints
For interior and exterior use in buildings, BASF offers decorative paints, marketed, for example, under the premium brand Suvinil®, which is one of Brazil’s best-known brands. With constant innovation launches, such as super-concentrated premium interior and exterior paint, Suvinil® continues to strengthen its role as a pioneer in the area of innovative paints.
Surface treatment solutions
BASF is a globally leading solution provider for applied surface treatment. Under our Chemetall brand, we offer customized technology and system solutions to protect metals from corrosion, facilitate forming and machining, allow parts to be optimally prepared for the painting process and ensure proper coating adhesion. These products are used in a wide range of industries and markets, such as automotive, aerospace, aluminum finishing and metal forming.
Automotive is the most important customer industry for BASF’s coatings business. The number of cars and light commercial vehicles produced globally is expected to grow in the medium term. The main growth driver is Asia – in particular China – where BASF is well-positioned to participate in the growth opportunities.
Source: Global automotive production forecast May 2023 (IHS Markit, now part of S&P Global)
The Coatings division holds one of the top three market positions in all strategic business areas in which it is active.
The main competitors (alphabetical order) include AkzoNobel, Axalta, Henkel, Kansai Paint, Nippon Paint, PPG and Sherwin-Williams.
Our innovation efforts for the automotive industry are focused on close partnerships with our customers in order to formulate, for instance, new coatings solutions for integrated processes and unique eco-efficient coatings. Additional research topics include improved products for new technology markets, such as functional films and environmentally friendly applications.
(from 2020 onward)
| Product group | Description | Year |
| Automotive OEM | Resin capacity expansion in Caojing, China | 2020 |
| Expansion of e-coat production in Greenville, Ohio | 2022 | |
| Spraybooth capacity upgrade in Windsor, Canada | 2022 | |
| Upgrade of e-coat application center in Münster, Germany | 2023 | |
| Application center upgrade in Guadalajara, Spain | 2023 | |
| Site expansion in Minhang, China | 2023 | |
| Further resin capacity expansion in Caojing, China | 2024 | |
| Refinish | New laboratory facility in Münster, Germany | 2022 |
| Capacity expansion in Jiangmen, China | 2022 | |
| New filling and packaging lines in Münster, Germany | 2023 | |
| Surface treatment | New surface treatment site in Pinghu, China | 2021 |
| New business development | New production for functional films in Münster, Germany |
2020 |
BASF Coatings manufactures its products at more than 70 sites worldwide. The most important sites are listed below.
| Product group | Site |
| Automotive OEM | Greenville, Ohio; Guadalajara, Spain; Münster, Germany; Shanghai, China; Tultitlán, Mexico |
| Refinish | Clermont de l’Oise, France; Jiangmen, China; Münster, Germany; Windsor, Canada |
| Surface treatment | Blackman Township, Michigan; Boksburg, South Africa; Guissano, Italy; Langelsheim, Germany; Sens, France; Shanghai, China |
| Decorative paints | Demarchi and Jaboatão, Brazil |
Automotive colors in the virtual world
With AUROOM®, OEM designers can access photorealistic virtual car colors and speed up the design process. Our virtual colors capture all characteristics of automotive coatings, including lightness flop, color flop and sparkling, while our colorimetric know-how ensures their authenticity. By mapping these colors on car models, OEM designers can paint every color proposal virtually and gain realistic impressions of colors and effects on a complete car during an early design phase.