AkzoNobel has become the global refinish partner for new energy vehicle manufacturer BYD Auto Sales Company.
The company has been a recommended supplier of vehicle refinish products and services to BYD in China since 2017. This new deal means the agreement will continue, while extending the partnership to serve BYD’s body shops and approved repairer networks worldwide.
Originally a battery maker, BYD says it now has more than 1.18 million new energy vehicles in operation, having been ranked first in China’s electric vehicle sales for six consecutive years (2014 to 2019).
“We’re delighted to broaden our partnership with BYD globally and together push ahead with our shared ambition of reducing carbon emissions,” said Patrick Bourguignon, Director of AkzoNobel’s Automotive and Specialty Coatings business. “Making transport more sustainable is a major driving force behind our innovation and BYD will benefit from a host of digital tools and cutting-edge services, as well as our class-leading vehicle refinish systems.”
These tools include the recently launched CO2eRepairCalculator, which AkzoNobel said is the vehicle refinish industry’s first repair system designed to measure, manage, and reduce carbon emissions. The calculator is part of a new initiative which encourages body shops to become more sustainable.
Other digital solutions being provided include MIXIT, AkzoNobel’s digital colour identification and retrieval application. Meanwhile, the company’s Wanda brand will continue to be supplied in China, with plans to supply Sikkens and Lesonal globally.
“We look forward to supporting BYD with its pioneering work in the eMobility space, while underlining our own commitment to halving our carbon emissions across the full value chain by 2030,” said Bourguignon.