BASF Coatings has released its report titled ‘Colour Report For Automotive OEM Coatings’ to provide a detailed exploration of the recent colour trends in the automotive industry.

BASF Coatings computed the colour distribution mentioned in the report using the information that was available about the manufacture of automobiles worldwide and the application of paint to passenger cars. According to the report, as buyers stray from conventional favourites like white and silver, the worldwide automobile colour landscape continues to change in 2024. According to the report, this change is opening the door for a more varied palette, warm neutrals and vivid colours to become more popular throughout the business. In particular, customers still prefer white, but warm hues like yellow and beige are becoming more and more desirable, and green is becoming more and more popular everywhere. Additionally, achromatic hues like grey and black are becoming more popular.

The report also highlights the region-wise trend in automotive coating based on consumer preference. As per the report, beige is gaining popularity in the EMEA region as achromatic colours continue steady growth in the region, increasing from 72 percent in 2021 to almost 80 percent in 2024. White remains the most preferred colour, while grey comes second.

In the Americas, grey is shining as one of the most versatile and captivating colours with almost 20 percent of the total market share. Compared to 2023, black colour has decreased by two percentage points, while white has had a five percentage point loss, which is even more notable.

The Asia Pacific market, on the other hand, is dominated by black colour. With achromatic colours remaining the top choice for 83 percent of consumers, black colour secured a gain of two percentage points in popularity, while white saw a decline of over two points. Chromatic colours with soft tones, particularly yellow, are also on the rise in this region, the report says.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Sue Bai, Chief Engineer at American Honda Motor Co., Inc., has been elected to the SAE International Board of Directors.

She serves as the Director at Large for the 2026-2027 term, Bai is the second representative from Honda to join the governing body. Her appointment follows a career focused on the research and deployment of mobility technologies.

Bai manages the Sustainability & Business Development unit at American Honda. Her previous experience includes leading data business for the Digital Service Development Division, where she analysed transportation data to assist road infrastructure and traffic environments. Since joining Honda R&D Americas in 2004, she has held leadership positions at the Honda Research Institute USA and the Automobile Technology Division.

Within SAE International, Bai has chaired technical committees for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) standards. These protocols aim to coordinate safety for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. She has also acted as the technical lead for industry-government projects, including the Ohio Smart Mobility Corridor, a test bed for connected safety systems.

SAE International is a global network that develops consensus standards and provides career development for engineers. Bai has been a member for nearly 20 years and has received honours including the SAE Top Contributor of the Year in 2021 and 2022, as well as the James M. Crawford Executive Standards Committee Outstanding Achievement Award.

Bai holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and a Master of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Michigan. Her work has spanned Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and automated vehicle research.

Sue Bai, said, “I’m honoured to be elected to the SAE International Board of Directors. SAE plays a vital role in bringing engineers together to solve complex mobility challenges, and I look forward to further contributing to work that advances knowledge and solutions for the benefit of society.”

The SAE Board of Directors oversees the organisation’s mission to connect members through standards and learning opportunities. Bai’s term will focus on the application of engineering knowledge to address mobility issues.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

GreenCell Mobility (GCM), the electric bus platform backed by Eversource Capital, has completed a USD 89 million mezzanine funding round. The investment was provided by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), British International Investment (BII) and Tata Capital. The capital is designated to support the expansion of GCM’s electric vehicle operations across India.

The company currently operates a fleet of more than 1,200 electric buses and 270 charging stations. This funding will facilitate the growth of the fleet to 3,700 units. The expansion includes buses secured through the National E-Bus Programme and the PM Seva E-Mobility initiative. These vehicles will serve routes in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Puducherry.

The mezzanine financing structure is intended to catalyse private and institutional capital for the transport sector. By increasing the number of electric buses on intra-city and intercity corridors, GCM aims to address air quality and carbon emission targets. The project also focuses on establishing payment-security models and financing structures that can be replicated in urban transport markets.

GCM functions as an OEM-agnostic platform, allowing it to integrate various bus models into its network. The investment will also fund the development of charging infrastructure required to support the larger fleet, specifically targeting connectivity in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

Dhanpal Jhaveri, Vice-Chairman of Everstone Group and CEO of Eversource Capital, said, "Through this funding round for GreenCell Mobility, we are deepening our partnership with IFC, BII and Tata Capital (leaders in sustainable investments). The transaction exemplifies the catalytic role that private, development and institutional capital can play in accelerating India’s clean transport revolution. GCM’s expanded operations will drive transformation efficient transportation to cities and commuters while delivering returns."

Devndra Chawla, Managing Director & CEO, GreenCell Mobility, said, "This fundraise marks a significant milestone in GreenCell Mobility’s journey to build electric mobility as a mainstream, scalable public transport solution for India. The participation of IFC, BII and Tata Capital reflects strong conviction in our platform, our operating model, and our ability to execute at scale. As we expand our fleet and charging infrastructure across states under programmes such as PM Seva E-Mobility, our focus remains on delivering reliable, cost-efficient and zero-emission transport for cities and intercity corridors."

Katherine Koh, Regional Industry Manager, IFC, added, “Electrifying buses is central to India’s urban transformation agenda, and our mezzanine investment in GreenCell will accelerate the rollout of sustainable public transport for thousands of people across India’s tier-2 and tier-3 cities. It will create jobs while catalyzing private capital through innovative financing and payment-security models.”

Shilpa Kumar, Managing Director and Head of India, BII, said, “Climate action is a key priority for BII in India, with electric mobility as a key pillar of our climate investment strategy. Electric buses are a critical lever for decarbonising public transport at scale. Our investment in GreenCell Mobility reflects our commitment to supporting proven platforms that accelerate clean mobility.”

Manish Chourasia, Chief Operating Officer, Tata Capital, noted, "Tata Capital is pleased to participate in this strategic investment that accelerates India’s transition to cleaner, more efficient transport. GCM’s innovative approach aligns with our vision for sustainable urban development and inclusive growth.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions recently hosted its landmark ZEISS Quality Innovation Worldwide forums in New Delhi and Pune. These events, integral to a global series originating from the flagship summit in Berlin, positioned India as a central architect in the evolving narrative of worldwide metrology. Focused squarely on ‘The Future of Metrology’, the gatherings engaged key manufacturing sectors – from automotive and electric mobility to medical technology and electronics – on overcoming modern precision and quality challenges.

A core insight emphasised metrology's transformative shift from merely assessing outcomes to proactively predicting performance. This evolution empowers manufacturers to accelerate innovation while adhering to rigorous quality standards. The forums established a pioneering national platform, merging strategic dialogue with exhibits of advanced technology. Attendees engaged with cutting-edge innovations across optical, tactile and X-ray measurement, explored connected digital ecosystems like ZEISS PiWeb and witnessed AI-driven and automated inspection solutions aligned with smart industry principles. Practical, hands-on demonstrations bridged these technologies with real-world production scenarios.

Notably, the India editions amplified the voice of local industry, with leading manufacturers detailing their own journeys in quality transformation. They shared experiences in building resilient quality cultures, pioneering process innovation and implementing best practices in complex environments. This highlighted a collaborative model for progress, where the future of Indian metrology is being jointly shaped by global technology leaders and domestic industrial innovation.

By selecting two of India’s premier industrial hubs, ZEISS reinforced its deep commitment to the nation's manufacturing ascent. The initiative frames India not merely as a growth market but as a vital contributor to global manufacturing excellence. Ultimately, the events united industry leaders and quality champions to collectively define how predictive intelligence and precision will forge the next decade of manufacturing.

Aveen Padmaprabha, Head of Industrial Quality Solutions, ZEISS India, said, “As manufacturing continues to transform, the expectations from metrology are expanding rapidly – from speed and accuracy to data-driven decision-making. ZEISS Quality Innovation Worldwide in India, which witnessed a humbling participation of 350+ individuals from the manufacturing fraternity, demonstrated how advanced metrology solutions can empower the industry to achieve higher productivity and quality consistency. Our focus remains on enabling our customers with future-ready technologies and deep application expertise.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

BASF Coatings has released its latest Color Report for Automotive OEM Coatings, revealing a shift in global vehicle colour preferences for 2025. The data indicates that green has become the fastest-growing chromatic colour, while gray has increased its share within the achromatic category.

The report finds that while white remains the dominant choice in India, there is a growing shift towards individual expression. Globally, the report identifies green as the fastest-growing chromatic colour and gray as a primary riser in the achromatic category.

According to the report, Indian consumers continue to favour white for its traditional appeal and resale value, yet nature-inspired aesthetics are gaining traction. Green now ranks among the top three chromatic colours globally, trailing only blue and red. While blue dropped by one percentage point and red declined to 3 percent of the total market, green continued a steady rise. Gray recorded an increase of two percentage points worldwide, whereas white saw a slight decline in other markets despite its stronghold in India. Solid finishes have also decreased globally, now representing 18 percent of the total market.

Florina Trost, Head of Design EMEA, BASF Coatings, said, “The green trend was already making waves in EMEA a few years ago. Different shades have been featured in our Automotive Color Trends collection, hinting at the huge variety of shades we see fitting to this movement today.”

The Americas showed an increase in chromatic paints by nearly two percentage points. While red and blue remain historically significant in this region, colours such as green, beige, brown and violet are gaining momentum.

Mark Gutjahr, Global Head of Automotive Color Design, BASF Coatings, said, “In 2021, brown and beige have been key colours of our trend collection. The sales now validate these early predictions and illustrate, how long-term trends continue to shape the market.”

In the Asia Pacific region, gray is trending upwards as white declines. Green is expanding its presence with a range extending from light tones to natural shades.

Chiharu Matsuhara, Head of Automotive Color Design for Asia Pacific, BAF Coatings, said, “In our past trend forecast, we have introduced a solid-like gray with subtle colour interference and highlighted an urban nuance green for adaptability. Today, gray strengthens while green expands across the region.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!