Every year, the designers of BASF’s Coatings division create a new collection of colours to inspire automotive designers worldwide. The current theme of Automotive Color Trends 2024–2025 draws on the concept of ‘routing’ in communication technology, i.e. the way information is transmitted.

The Routing collection from BASF's Automotive Color Trends for 2024-2025. Source: BASF

‘During our research, we found that the way we communicate with people or artificial intelligence and process information is a strong driver for the development of new trends,’ explains Mark Gutjahr, global head of Automotive Color Design at BASF. “Communication is vibrant, constantly changing and mutually influential – much like colours.” The “Routing” collection reflects communication over time through a diverse range of colours.

‘During our research, we found that the way we communicate with people or artificial intelligence and process information is a strong driver for the development of new trends,’ explains Mark Gutjahr, global head of Automotive Color Design at BASF. “Communication is vibrant, constantly changing and mutually influential – much like colours.” The “Routing” collection reflects communication over time through a diverse range of colours.

This year’s trends include new red tones with intense violet nuances, whereby darker and bluish red tones tend to fade into the background. Dark, achromatic shades are given more energy and dynamism by intense colour effects that go beyond pure black as a single colour. Fine metallic effects are particularly characterised by a strong surface effect, which gives metallic colours a new radiance. The spectrum of pastel colours is becoming more and more diverse. For example, beige and light green tones can be found on the market, but also unusual intermediate tones. Sustainability and functionality remain the focus of Routing. The colours are developed using renewable, recycled and bio-based materials and are optimised for sensor-based driving systems.

As automotive OEM customers rely on BASF’s colour collections when developing colours for future models, these new colours may be seen on the streets or driveways in as few as three to five model years.