BASF Coatings and Li Auto Form Strategic Partnership for Sustainability and Digitalization
BASF Coatings, a global leader in innovative coatings solutions, has announced a new strategic partnership with Li Auto Inc., a prominent player in China’s new energy vehicle market. The collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation, focuses on advancing sustainability and digitalization in the automotive sector. Together, the two companies aim to push the boundaries of painting technologies while supporting the transition to a more sustainable and connected future for the automotive industry.
Exploring Low-Carbon Emission Material Technologies
The core objective of this partnership is to develop innovative low-carbon emission material technologies. Through joint research and development, BASF Coatings and Li Auto will explore new materials and processes that enhance product performance while promoting environmental sustainability. The collaboration will cover a range of coatings solutions, including e-coats, basecoats, and clearcoats, which are essential for vehicle manufacturing.
By integrating these low-carbon technologies, both companies aim to reduce the environmental impact of vehicle production. This initiative is part of a broader effort to align with global sustainability goals and help the automotive industry transition to greener practices. The partnership will also pave the way for the creation of a joint innovation platform that will focus on developing cutting-edge materials and processes that meet both environmental and performance standards.
Digitalization for Intelligent Operations
In addition to sustainability, digitalization will be a major focus of the partnership. BASF Coatings and Li Auto plan to integrate digital solutions that foster intelligent and automated interconnections across business operations. By leveraging data-sharing platforms and open systems, the two companies aim to streamline their processes, enhance operational efficiency, and improve product quality.
Digitalization will also allow for greater collaboration in areas such as supply chain management, product development, and customer service. By enhancing their digital capabilities, both BASF Coatings and Li Auto hope to create a more competitive business model that benefits the entire ecosystem of new energy vehicles.
A Long-standing Relationship Built on Innovation
This new strategic partnership builds on a long-standing relationship between BASF Coatings and Li Auto. Since 2016, BASF has been supplying Li Auto with a wide range of coatings products tailored to meet the company’s technical requirements and consumer demands. The two companies have worked closely together to develop solutions in color design, anti-corrosion coatings, and more.
Li Auto has made significant strides in the automotive industry, and their collaboration with BASF has played a key role in their success. In October 2024, Li Auto celebrated the milestone of delivering one million vehicles in just 58 months, setting a new record for the fastest one million deliveries in China’s luxury car market.
Looking to the Future
The strategic partnership between BASF Coatings and Li Auto represents a significant step forward in the evolution of the automotive industry. As both companies continue to innovate, they will drive the adoption of sustainable and digital solutions in vehicle manufacturing, ultimately contributing to the growth of the new energy vehicle market.
“We are thrilled to deepen our collaboration with Li Auto, a pioneering market leader that shares our core values in innovation, sustainability, and digitalization,” said Jack Zou, Vice President of Global Key Account Management Asia Pacific OEMs, Global Automotive OEM Coatings at BASF. “We are confident that this partnership will enhance the operational efficiency and quality levels of both parties, ultimately creating a more competitive business model that benefits the entire ecosystem of new energy vehicles.”
Li Auto also expressed excitement about the continued collaboration. “We met BASF at the start of our business and have journeyed together for nine years,” said Liao Mengjun, Vice President of R&D Operations at Li Auto. “We appreciate the excellent solutions provided by BASF in color design, anti-corrosion coatings, and beyond. We look forward to continuing to deepen our cooperation and working hand in hand to promote the development of the automotive industry.”
Together, BASF Coatings and Li Auto are poised to make a significant impact on the future of the automotive industry, driving innovation and sustainability while delivering cutting-edge solutions to meet the demands of the modern consumer.
About Li Auto Inc.
Li Auto Inc. is a leader in China’s new energy vehicle market. The Company designs, develops, manufactures, and sells premium smart electric vehicles. Its mission is: Create a Mobile Home, Create Happiness. Through innovations in product, technology, and business model, the Company provides families with safe, convenient, and comfortable products and services. Li Auto is a pioneer in successfully commercializing extended-range electric vehicles in China. While firmly advancing along this technological route, it builds platforms for battery electric vehicles in parallel. The Company leverages technology to create value for users.
It concentrates its in-house development efforts on proprietary range extension systems, innovative electric vehicle technologies, and smart vehicle solutions. The Company started volume production in November 2019. Its current model lineup includes Li MEGA, a high-tech flagship family MPV, Li L9, a six-seat flagship family SUV, Li L8, a six-seat premium family SUV, Li L7, a five-seat flagship family SUV, and Li L6, a five-seat premium family SUV. The Company will continue to expand its product lineup to target a broader user base.
For more information, please visit: https://ir.lixiang.com.
About BASF Coatings
The Coatings division of BASF is a global expert in the development, production and marketing of innovative and sustainable automotive OEM and refinish coatings, decorative paints as well as applied surface treatments for metal, plastic and glass substrates in a wide range of industries. We create advanced performance solutions and drive performance, design and new applications to meet our partners’ needs all over the world. BASF shares skills, knowledge and resources of interdisciplinary and global teams for the benefit of customers by operating a collaborative network of sites in Europe, North America, South America and Asia Pacific. In 2024, the Coatings division achieved global sales of about €4.3 billion.
Solutions beyond your imagination – Coatings by BASF. For more information about BASF Coatings and its products, visit www.basf-coatings.com.
