March 27, 2025

BASF Coatings and Li Auto agree on strategic partnership for sustainability and digitalization
 

BASF Coatings, a leading global supplier of innovative coatings solutions, and Li Auto Inc., a leader in China’s new energy vehicle market, have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation, with the primary goal of promoting and implementing painting innovations powered by sustainability and digital innovations.

Guided by the Memorandum, BASF Coatings and Li Auto will collaboratively explore the field of new low-carbon emission material technologies, and establish a joint innovation platform to develop new materials and processes that improve product performance and provide competitive coatings solutions encompassing e-coat, basecoat, clearcoat, and more.

Digitalization is another focus of the cooperation. Through sustained and in-depth cooperation in digital solutions, BASF Coatings and Li Auto aim to facilitate data sharing and system openness, achieving intelligent and automated interconnection of business operations.

“We are thrilled to deepen our collaboration with Li Auto, a pioneering market leader that shares our core values in innovation, sustainability, and digitalization. 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 carries significant value for the entire ecosystem of new energy vehicles,” said Jack Zou, Vice President, Global Key Account Management Asia Pacific OEMs, Global Automotive OEM Coatings, BASF.

"We met BASF at the start of our business, and have journeyed together for nine years. 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 with BASF, creating opportunities for collaboration, and working hand in hand to promote the development of the automotive industry," said Liao Mengjun, Vice President of R&D Operations at Li Auto.

Starting from 2016, BASF Coatings has been supplying Li Auto with a comprehensive range of coatings products tailored to meet its technical requirements and consumer demands. In October 2024, Li Auto achieved 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.

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.

Cheryl Wu
Coatings Communications, Asia Pacific
From left to right:
  • Liao Mengjun, Vice President, R&D Operations, Li Auto
  • Xu Mian, Senior Director, R&D Operations and Manufacturing Engineering, Li Auto
  • Jack Zou, Vice President, Global Key Account Management Asia Pacific OEMs, Global Automotive OEM Coatings, BASF
  • Henry Paeckert, Senior Vice President, Business & Market Development Greater China, BASF
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Last UpdateMarch 27, 2025