Automotive Color Trends 2023-2024 from BASF

Automotive Color Trends are created annually by the designers of BASF's Coatings division via a new color collection. Sustainability and functionality also play a role in the "On Volude" collection for the Automotive Color Trends 2023-2024.

While analyzing new automotive color trends for 2023-2024, BASF designers realized that classic automotive shades were in dire need of a makeover. Colors that are atypical for the automotive sector are becoming increasingly relevant and are causing various changes in color diversity. The collection reflects a positive mood and is characterized by lighter shades as well as expressive color spaces.

On Volude includes exciting shades with an increased focus on sustainability and functionality. With customers relying on BASF's color collection to develop shades for future models, these new shades will be seen on the streets or in the driveway in as little as three to five model years.

In the color palette for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, there is a clear focus on light beige tones. Pastel shades also play an important role - they bring exciting color spaces that are not familiar from automotive design.

As in the entire On Volude color collection, the new shades in the EMEA region not only open up new color spaces - with sustainable and recycled raw materials, LiDAR- and RADAR-compatible concepts and haptic surfaces, they also respond to functional and ecological requirements.

"Expressive color tones reflect our willingness to speak up," explains Mark Gutjahr, Head of Automotive Color Design, EMEA. "By including new and unusual shades for the automotive sector, we are expanding the collection to include new and exciting color spaces."

For On Volude, Asia Pacific designers have enriched the important color spaces of white and gray with new designs and innovations. Exciting new color spaces such as shimmering green pastels and fluorescent red cater to the increasing desire for individual expression among car buyers in Asia Pacific. The collection includes realistic approaches to sustainable materials as well as diverse sustainable processes, concepts and effects.

"This color palette creates wonderful hue harmonies that pave the way for futuristic, modern and playful color and effect combinations," said Chiharu Matsuhara, head of Automotive Color Design, Asia Pacific. "These sustainable concepts are reimagined with a more realistic approach and strengthen BASF's leadership in sustainability."

The color palette for North and South America exudes optimism and contrast, celebrating diverse possibilities from the art and design fields. The color spaces feature new and exciting characteristics and functionalities. The collection includes soft hues, minimized textures and subtle features that can be envisioned in years to come, providing forward-looking direction for long-term trends. The shades for the Americas region reflect sunlight for a cooling effect in the vehicle. They are also combined with sensor-based mobility concepts and open up new possibilities in responsible resource sourcing.

"In this year's color collection, red pastels and midtones are replaced by yellow and green hues that symbolize renewal and sustainability," says Liz Hoffman, head of automotive color design, Americas. "On the one hand, this combination complements earthy color spaces, but on the other hand, it also allows for completely new color ranges, breaking new ground. In this way, the collection reflects the new way of thinking in automotive design."

Every year, the designers in the Coatings division sound out future trends and use them as a basis for developing new surfaces, structures and color shades. They draw their inspiration from a variety of sources, ranging from industry and fashion to technologies, consumer products and nature. They share these research findings with BASF's customers, automotive manufacturers, to help shape the future of mass production.

On Volude combines functional concepts with realistic approaches. With their focus on technology and innovation, BASF's designers are setting new standards in color design and at the same time creating important momentum in the automotive industry. The goal is to meet these functional requirements while creating a visually as well as haptically appealing surface. BASF is also the global market leader in the tools used to create and share the designs with automotive designers. Thanks to BASF's "Auroom" digital color platform, design processes can be made much faster and more efficient. (OM-10/23)