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BASF Coatings and NIO agree on strategic partnership for automotive coatings
 

BASF Coatings, a leading global supplier of innovative coatings solutions, and NIO, a pioneer in the global smart electric vehicle market, have announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) aimed at establishing a strategic partnership to enhance cooperation in the automotive coatings sector. This collaboration marks a significant step towards achieving a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship, focusing on automotive exterior coatings for NIO’s electric vehicles.

The agreement lays out the framework for ongoing discussions between the two companies, facilitating annual strategic dialogues to negotiate the implementation of this partnership. Both parties are committed to fostering platforms for cooperation that encompass market and customer development, project management, and information exchange.

As part of the strategic cooperation, BASF Coatings intends to provide NIO with an extensive range of products tailored to meet specific technical requirements and will offer value-added services including color design, color development, digital solutions, sustainability initiatives, workshops, and industry-leading technical support.

”The signing of today’s strategic partnership agreement builds on ten years of successful collaboration. NIO has established a leading position for electric vehicles through advanced technology and a clear brand identity. Together, we will keep on exploring innovative technologies and we will support NIO in reaching its sustainability targets and future goals,” said Uta Holzenkamp, President of BASF Coatings.

NIO recognizes BASF Coatings as its strategic partner for automotive exterior coatings, emphasizing the importance of this collaboration in achieving shared goals. Both companies will work jointly on the development and application of new coating materials and technologies on a global level, aiming for sustainable development and carbon neutrality.

The partnership represents a significant milestone in the automotive industry, as BASF Coatings and NIO aim to enhance their cooperation through innovation and strategic alignment. Both companies are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead in shaping the future of electric vehicle coatings together.
 

About NIO

NIO is a global smart electric vehicle company founded in November 2014. Dedicated to shaping a sustainable and brighter future together by providing high-performance smart electric vehicles and exceptional user experiences, NIO is the first car company listed on the NYSE, HKEX and SGX. NIO currently has three major brands under its umbrella: NIO, ONVO and firefly.

Ten years into establishment, NIO is now one of the leading companies in the global premium smart electric vehicle market, committed to fostering its own research and development capabilities for core technologies. As of the end of December 2024, the company had filed for and obtained over 9,800 patents. Additionally, NIO has developed NIO Full Stack, a collection of 12 technology domains.

NIO has R&D and manufacturing facilities in Shanghai, Hefei, Beijing, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Wuhan, San Jose, Munich, Oxford, Berlin, Budapest, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. The company has also established sales and service networks in China, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, the UAE, Israel and Azerbaijan.

NIO Inc. currently offers nine premium smart electric vehicle models under the NIO brand and one smart electric vehicle under the ONVO brand. firefly has started its pre-orders in China. As of January 31, 2025, NIO Inc. had delivered a total of 685,427 vehicles, leading the premium BEV segment priced above RMB 300,000.
 

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.