BASF and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) Design were honored with the 2017 China Automotive Color Award in the color application category.

The award recognizes the dazzling application of the “Starlight Sapphire Blue” coating from BASF on the Roewe Vision-E concept car from SAIC. Making its stunning debut at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show, the unique Starlight Sapphire Blue highlights the futuristic and high-tech attributes of this electric coupe SUV.

Established in 2004, the China Color Award is given out by the China Fashion & Color Association to recognize outstanding performance in color, including application, technology, education and culture. Starlight Sapphire Blue is a brand-new interpretation of the classic “Klein Blue” color, with an additional purple gradient effect. The BASF color development team customized a special formula and painting process to successfully bring an entirely new look to a classic color.

“We are proud to contribute to the striking design of the new Roewe concept car with our professional color design and innovative coatings solutions,” said Nils Lessmann, VP and GM of BASF Shanghai Coatings Co., Ltd.

“Through joint efforts with the BASF coatings team, our designers are able to develop special colors that bring design concepts into life,” said Wang Mu of SAIC Design.

The BASF color design team works with automotive customers worldwide to advise on automotive color trends and provide color design services. Each year, BASF releases its Automotive Color Trends to present inspiring colors to car designers. With innovative coatings technology and processes, BASF’s color development team turns design concepts into the latest automotive colors that fit the local automotive market.