Automotive Refinish Coatings Market

Kerry Pianoforte, Editor

Coatings World interviews Rob Lagendijk, Commercial Marketing and Product Management Director for AkzoNobel’s Automotive and Specialty Coatings Business, and Steve Arndt, Senior Vice President, Global Automotive Refinish Coatings, Surventis.

CW: How did the market for auto refinish coatings perform in 2026?

Lagendijk: The auto refinish market remains resilient in 2026, despite bodyshops continuing to operate in a demanding environment. Across the sector, the pressure is still on them to improve productivity, reduce cycle times and lower their energy consumption, while still delivering consistently high repair quality. Sustainability is also a more immediate business priority. This is leading to customers coming to us for support on practical ways to reduce emissions and run more efficient operations.

Arndt: The automotive refinish market remained resilient in 2026, although demand varied across regions and market segments. While economic uncertainty continued to affect parts of the automotive value chain, the need for collision repair remained stable. In some regions, geopolitical tensions and logistics disruptions continued to create challenges for supply chains, underlining the importance of reliable supply networks across the industry.

CW: What challenges does the market face moving forward in the years to come?

Lagendijk: Looking ahead, the market is likely to face a combination of economic, operational and technical challenges. In many mature markets, uncertainty around vehicle purchasing decisions is continuing as consumers weigh up combustion, hybrid and fully electric options. At the same time, bodyshops are managing skills shortages, rising energy and material costs, coupled with the pressure to improve efficiency and profitability. 

Repair complexity continues to grow, particularly as bodyshops deal with more newer vehicles, including EVs and those equipped with advanced driver assistance systems, which require different repair methods, additional safety considerations and a higher level of technical expertise.

In this environment, bodyshops will increasingly need solutions that help them work faster, more efficiently and more sustainably, without compromising repair quality.

Arndt: The automotive refinish market is changing rapidly and the nature of collision repair is evolving. Driver assistance systems are helping reduce the frequency of minor damage, while many accidents that may previously have resulted in a total loss are now repairable due to advances in vehicle design and repair technology. As a result, body shops are handling fewer routine repairs and a greater share of technically demanding work.

The industry is also facing increasing regulatory requirements, particularly around sustainability, emissions and workplace safety. One example is the EU’s requirements on diisocyanate handling: since 2023, professional users have needed to complete mandatory safety training, which means body shops now carry a documentation and compliance burden that didn’t exist a few years ago.

Companies that can help customers navigate these structural changes while balancing performance, sustainability and regulatory requirements will be best positioned for long-term success.

CW: What are the key issues facing your auto refinish customers and how is your company addressing those needs?

Lagendijk: Our customers are looking for solutions that help them do more with less: improving throughput, reducing energy use, simplifying workflows and maintaining consistently high repair quality. They are also facing the need to attract, train and upskill technicians so they can manage increasingly complex repairs. 

AkzoNobel is addressing these needs through advanced coatings systems, digital color and process tools, and integrated system solutions that help bodyshops improve efficiency, reduce variability and support more sustainable operations. In addition to this, we support our customers with both online or on-site training. 

Arndt: The challenges we hear most often from customers are productivity, workforce shortages and pressure on profitability.

Body shops are looking for ways to repair more vehicles with limited resources while maintaining repair quality and meeting customer expectations. At the same time, finding and retaining skilled technicians remains difficult in many markets.

These pressures show up directly on the bottom line. Repair facilities are facing higher operating costs while continuing to meet expectations for quality, speed and sustainability. This makes it increasingly important to improve efficiency and control costs across the repair process.

That is where we focus our support. Premium coating systems are the starting point, but the real impact comes from combining them with training, consulting and digital solutions. An accurate color match on the first attempt saves time and eliminates costly rework, while efficient workflows help reduce energy and material consumption throughout the repair process. A body shop earns money on the vehicle that leaves the booth, not on the paint it buys. Everything we offer is designed around helping our customers improve that equation.

CW: What are the newest products that your company’s refinish business has launched and what do they deliver to the marketplace?

Lagendijk: One of our latest innovations is Sikkens Autowave Optima, a next-generation waterborne basecoat developed to help bodyshops improve both productivity and sustainability. It introduces a true one-stop application process that can reduce process times by up to 50%, lower paint consumption by around 15% and reduce energy costs and associated carbon emissions by up to 60%, while maintaining the color accuracy and the finish quality customers need.

Its full potential is realized as part of the complete Optima system. Together with Autosurfacer Optima and the newly launched Autoclear Optima, bodyshops benefit from a fully integrated refinishing process designed to improve speed, flexibility and operational efficiency. Autosurfacer Optima can deliver energy savings of up to 85% compared with conventional fillers, while Autoclear Optima offers fast drying, flexible curing options and premium finish quality, helping bodyshops increase throughput without compromising results.

Arndt: Our innovation efforts extend beyond individual products and increasingly focus on helping body shops improve overall business performance.

A key area is the continued expansion of Refinity, our digital ecosystem for the refinish industry. Refinity brings together color, training and business solutions in one platform, helping body shops improve color matching accuracy, streamline workflows and make better-informed business decisions. We continue to introduce new capabilities that further connect data, processes and technologies across the repair journey.

Process innovations remain equally important. Approaches such as Wet-on-Wet application help reduce process steps, shorten repair times and lower energy consumption, supporting higher throughput and improved workshop productivity.

CW: Are there any new developments worth noting (expansion, consolidation, new facility, acquisition)?

Arndt: The most significant development for us is the launch of Surventis as an independent coatings company. Operating as a standalone company allows us to focus entirely on coatings and surface solutions and invest directly in the areas that matter most to our customers and markets. This means faster decision-making and an even stronger customer focus. 

On a technical level, we are also advancing collaborations and technologies that support the future of collision repair, including automation, digitalization and more connected repair processes. One concrete example is our strategic cooperation in robotics, where our coating materials are being used in robotic systems for automated painting in daily operations — helping push the process toward greater precision and efficiency. CW