What BASF Coatings does

BASF Coatings, headquartered in Münster, Germany, is a global surface solutions company that designs, develops, produces, and markets automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinish coatings, surface treatment solutions under the Chemetall brand, and adjacent product lines in lighting optical films and sharkskin/riblet aerodynamic films. Operating more than 70 production, R&D, and engineering sites worldwide with approximately 10,300 employees, the company serves automotive original equipment manufacturers, authorized collision repair bodyshop networks, aerospace manufacturers, and general industrial customers across EMEA, North America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.

The portfolio centers on advanced coatings chemistry, including waterborne basecoats, e-coats, clearcoats, and pretreatment chemistries, alongside proprietary sustainability-focused technologies such as OFLA (Overspray-Free Application, developed with Renault and Dürr, achieving 100% transfer efficiency), Integrated Process II (eliminating primer steps with up to 20% CO2 reduction), Biomass Balance-certified products under REDcert2, ChemCycling for circular feedstocks, CathoGuard 800RE e-coat, and the Glasurit 100 Line waterborne basecoat (VOC <250 g/l). Supporting the physical products are digital platforms including Refinity (bodyshop color management, workflow, and training), GLASS Tool (cradle-to-grave lifecycle assessment), the TÜV Rheinland-certified Eco Impact Assessment tool, and a new SAP-based Product Carbon Footprint solution covering 120,000 products. Premium sub-brands include Glasurit, R-M, and baslac for refinish, Chemetall for surface treatment, and Refinity for the bodyshop digital ecosystem.

Revenue is generated through direct B2B enterprise sales under multi-year contracts with automotive OEMs (including GM, BMW, Renault, Geely, Xiaomi, FAW-Volkswagen, SGMW, Volvo, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz) and through authorized bodyshop distribution channels for refinish products. Surface treatment sales extend into aerospace (Airbus), industrial, and emerging battery and electronics applications (e.g., Londian Wason for copper foil). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. In October 2025, BASF SE announced a €7.7 billion carve-out of BASF Coatings to a consortium led by Carlyle Group and Qatar Investment Authority, which will hold 60% while BASF SE retains 40%, with closing expected in Q2 2026 and a planned public listing by 2027. The standalone company will be led by incoming CEO Jens Luehring effective July 1, 2026.

Name

BASF Coatings

Legal name

BASF Coatings GmbH

Website

https://basf-coatings.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

BASF Coatings is a global surface solutions company that supplies automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinish paints (Glasurit, R-M), and surface treatment chemistries (Chemetall) to car manufacturers, bodyshops, aerospace, and industrial customers across 70+ sites, recently carved out of BASF SE.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Coatings

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551), Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing (3255), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (3328)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive & Transportation Coatings (IMAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Automotive Surface Materials & Coatings for Interiors/Exteriors Manufacturing (Upholstery Materials/Decor Films/Paints for Trim) (IMACAKAL), Passenger Vehicle Paint, Coatings & Surface Finishing (ICE) (IMACAAAD), Industrial Protective Coatings (IMAEAHAB)

Keywords

• Automotive OEM coatings
• Automotive refinish coatings
• Surface treatment solutions
• Industrial coating manufacturing
• Chemical surface solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Münster

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices23 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Automotive OEM Coatings: Coatings for new vehicle manufacturing supplied directly to automotive OEMs including e-coat, basecoat, clearcoat, and pretreatments. Revenue generated through direct sales with long-term supply agreements.
2. Automotive Refinish Coatings: Premium paint brands Glasurit and R-M supplied to collision repair facilities and authorized bodyshop networks. Refinity digital platform supports workflow management.
3. Surface Treatment (Chemetall): Surface treatment solutions including cleaners, conversion coatings, and passivation for metals, plastics, and glass across automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications.
4. Lighting Solutions: Optical films (diffusers, glare control, bat wing films, wall washers) for LED luminaires and lighting applications.
5. Sharkskin Technology (Riblet Films): Functional films imitating shark skin for aerodynamic optimization on aircraft, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BASF Coatings designs, develops, produces, and markets automotive OEM coatings (e-coat, basecoat, clearcoat, pretreatment) supplied to vehicle manufacturers, automotive refinish coatings (under the Glasurit, R-M, and baslac brands) for collision repair and bodyshops, and surface treatment solutions under the Chemetall brand for corrosion protection and pretreatment across automotive, aerospace, and industrial customers. It also provides lighting solutions (optical films for LED luminaires) and sharkskin/riblet aerodynamic films for aerospace, supported by the Refinity digital platform for bodyshops.

Product overview

BASF Coatings is a leading global supplier of surface solutions operating as a diversified coatings company with multiple product lines. The portfolio includes Automotive OEM Coatings (coatings for original equipment manufacturers), Automotive Refinish Coatings (repair solutions through brands like Glasurit, R-M, and baslac), Surface Treatment (Chemetall brand for corrosion protection and pretreatment), Lighting Solutions (optical films for LED applications), and Sharkskin Technology (aerodynamic surface films). The company offers digital platforms including Refinity for body shop management, Eco Impact Assessment tools, and Product Carbon Footprint solutions. Key technologies include Overspray Free Application (OFLA), Integrated Process II, and various sustainability-focused tools for emissions tracking. BASF Coatings operates over 70 sites worldwide with approximately 10,300 employees and is transitioning to become an independent company following Carlyle/QIA acquisition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Glasurit: Premium automotive refinish paint brand; 100 Line waterborne basecoat system with VOC <250 g/l
• R-M
• Refinity
• Chemetall
• baslac

Products and services

• Automotive OEM Coatings Coatings for original equipment manufacturers covering color design, protection, and functionality for vehicle bodies. Includes CathoGuard 800RE cathodic e-coat, Glasurit 100 Line waterborne basecoat, clearcoats, basecoats, and Integrated Process II waterborne primer/basecoat systems. Delivered to automotive OEMs (e.g., GM, BMW, Renault, Xiaomi, Geely) under multi-year supply agreements.
• Automotive Refinish Coatings Repair and recoating solutions for collision repair and automotive body shops, marketed under the Glasurit, R-M, and baslac brands. Includes Glasurit 100 Line waterborne basecoat (VOC <250 g/l), premium color-matching systems, and digital color management. Sold through authorized bodyshop networks including Volvo UK (78 Approved Bodyshops) and Mercedes-Benz Asia Pacific authorized repair network.
• Chemetall Surface Treatment Surface treatment solutions protecting metals from corrosion, facilitating forming and treatment of metals, plastic, and glass, and ensuring excellent coating adhesion. Includes cleaners, pretreatment, conversion coatings, Oxsilan multi-metal pretreatment, StarBloc thin-film primer, VIANT conversion coating/primer, and passivation solutions such as Gardolene D. Sold to automotive components, aerospace (Airbus SQIP Accredited Supplier 11 years), general industry, electronics, and battery manufacturers through direct sales and distribution partners (Azelis in Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam).
• Refinity Digital Platform Digital ecosystem for automotive refinish bodyshops integrating color management, workflow management, business operations, training, and sustainability evaluation (via the Eco Impact Assessment tool). Sold to body shop networks globally; provides TÜV Rheinland certified carbon footprint calculations aligned with GHG Protocol.
• Lighting Solutions Optical films for LED lighting applications including Diffuser, BatWing, GlareControl, and WallWasher films. The Sustainable-Diffuser S-D40 uses a biomass balance approach with post-consumer recycled plastic. Sold to LED luminaire manufacturers and lighting fixture producers.
• Riblet Films (Sharkskin Technology) Functional riblet/sharkskin films for aerodynamic optimization of aircraft surfaces, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Each deployment saves approximately 1,250 tons CO2 per aircraft per year. Sold directly to airlines and aircraft MROs.
• Integrated Process II Waterborne Basecoat System Waterborne basecoat process that integrates primer properties, enabling elimination of a full coating step (including baking) and reducing CO2 emissions by up to 20%. Sold to automotive OEM paint shops as part of OEM coating programs.
• Overspray-Free Application (OFLA) Technology Digitally controlled paint application system co-developed with Renault Group and Dürr that achieves 100% transfer efficiency and eliminates overspray in two-tone painting. Deployed at Renault's Maubeuge plant, delivering approximately 25% energy savings, 300 tonnes annual CO2 reduction, and 70% cost reduction in two-tone painting. Sold to automotive OEMs as an integrated coatings application solution.
• Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) Digital Solution Digital sustainability solution calculating product carbon footprints using SAP Sustainability Footprint Management across 25,000 raw materials and 120,000 sales products at 30 production sites. Provides auditable, real-time CO2 data aligned with GHG Protocol, enabling OEM customers to evaluate the carbon footprint of coatings purchases.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% transfer efficiency with OFLA technology (vs traditional spray application)
• +14 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature13 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Volvo Car UKmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Three-year partnership renewed. BASF appointed preferred paint coatings supplier for Volvo's UK Approved Bodyshop Network (78 locations). Supply of Glasurit and R-M brands with technical support and training.
• XiaomicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Expanded collaboration to co-develop 100 car paint colors over three years. BASF contributes from R&D to mass production. Nightfall Rose color won Ringier Technology Innovation Award. Full-layer coating systems for Xiaomi EVs.
• Londian WasonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic partnership with Londian Wason (Shenzhen) Holdings Group for copper foil treatment. Global leader in new energy and electronic materials, one of largest lithium battery copper foil producers.
• AzelisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Extended distribution partnership to include Thailand and Philippines, in addition to Vietnam, for Chemetall surface treatment solutions.
• Circular Plastics CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Chemetall selected to supply PET recycling washing solutions for Circular Plastics Company's new plant in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Recycling post-consumer PET into food-grade products.
• Lufthansa TechnikmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Sharkskin technology (NovaFlex) joint development. Surface structure imitating shark skin for aerodynamic optimization. Deployed on B777 aircraft from 7 airlines, saving ~1,250 tons CO2 per aircraft annually.
• Renault GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development and deployment of Overspray-Free Application (OFLA) technology at Renault's Maubeuge plant. OFLA enables 100% transfer efficiency and eliminates overspray in two-tone painting.
• DürrcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partner for OFLA process development. Dürr provides paint application equipment and process integration for overspray-free painting technology deployment.
• Audi (Revolut F1 Team)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive paint supplier for F1 debut season 2026. Glasurit 100 Line waterborne basecoat system applied to Audi R26, featuring Titanium Grey with exposed carbon and Audi Lava Red accents.
• BMW GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst OEM to use BASF Biomass Balance automotive coatings. Using CathoGuard 800 ReSource e-coat at Leipzig and Rosslyn plants, and iGloss matt ReSource clearcoat throughout Europe.
• GeelycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Partner Award recipient. Nearly two decades of cooperation with involvement from color development to mass production for multiple key models including Galaxy M9 and ZEEKR 8X.
• SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner2026 Global Excellence Partner Award recipient. Close collaboration since 2024 across color trends, color development, digital solutions, and innovative technologies for Baojun Yunhai and Bingo S series.
• FAW-VolkswagencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative Innovation Award recipient. Over 20 years supporting FAW-Volkswagen across China with full-layer solutions for countless vehicle models.
• General MotorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner2025 Supplier of the Year award (19th overall). Key account for automotive OEM coatings with senior leadership relationships. Global Key Account Management team dedicated to GM.
• AirbuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSQIP Accredited Supplier for 11 consecutive years. Chemetall provides surface treatment solutions for aircraft components and manufacturing.
• Mercedes-BenzmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlasurit and R-M authorized for Mercedes-Benz Asia Pacific authorized repair network including China (mainland and Taiwan), Australia, Malaysia, Korea, and Thailand.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Others

• Dürr AG: Leading German supplier of painting and finishing application systems, including OFLA co-development partner. Adjacent ecosystem participant supplying the equipment and automation into which BASF Coatings' coatings chemistry is integrated, making it a strategic partner and adjacent comparable in the automotive paint shop value chain.
• Henkel (Adhesive Technologies): Global leader in adhesives, sealants, and surface treatment chemicals serving automotive and industrial OEMs. Adjacent to BASF Coatings' Chemetall surface treatment business and competes in OEM pretreatment and process chemistry.

Direct peers

• Axalta Coating Systems: Direct global competitor focused on automotive OEM and refinish coatings, with strong North American and European presence. Closely comparable to BASF Coatings across OEM basecoats/clearcoats/e-coat, premium refinish brands, and surface treatment-adjacent offerings.
• Kansai Paint: Leading Japanese automotive coatings supplier with deep Asian OEM relationships and growing global footprint. Directly competes with BASF Coatings in automotive OEM coatings, particularly with Japanese and Asian automakers, and overlaps in industrial and decorative coatings.
• Atotech (Element Solutions): Surface finishing and electronics chemicals provider owned by Element Solutions, serving automotive, electronics, and industrial customers. Directly comparable to BASF Coatings' Chemetall brand in metal pretreatment, plating, and surface chemistry for automotive and industrial applications.

Broad incumbents

• PPG Industries: Diversified global coatings major with a significant automotive OEM and refinish coatings business alongside industrial, aerospace, and architectural coatings. Overlaps directly with BASF Coatings in automotive OEM, refinish, and surface treatment segments, and competes on color technology and sustainability.
• Nippon Paint Holdings: Major Asian-headquartered coatings group with automotive, industrial, decorative, and surface treatment businesses. Comparable to BASF Coatings across automotive OEM and refinish coatings and competes in Asia Pacific, with growing presence in Europe.
• Akzo Nobel: Global paints and coatings major with automotive, industrial, and decorative coatings. Overlaps with BASF Coatings in automotive OEM coatings, refinish, and specialty industrial coatings across EMEA, Americas, and Asia.
• Sherwin-Williams: World's largest coatings company, primarily architectural but with industrial and automotive refinish/coatings exposure through its Performance Coatings Group. Comparable to BASF Coatings in automotive refinish, industrial coatings, and surface treatment adjacencies.

Emerging players

• Mankiewicz Gebr. & Co. German specialty coatings manufacturer serving aerospace, automotive, and industrial customers. Comparable to BASF Coatings in high-end industrial and aerospace surface treatment/coatings, especially within European OEM and MRO supply chains.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BASF
• Facebookfacebook.com/basf.apac
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/basf

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BASF Coatings