BASF has secured a multi-year contract with Mercedes-Benz in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region that extends its longstanding, commercially approved supplier status with the car company to Australia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

The agreement includes its Glasurit and R-M premium automotive refinishing brands and RODIM paint-related products.

"Our focus on product innovation, eco-efficient solutions, digital business management solutions and training dovetails well with Mercedes-Benz's own vision of innovation and sustainability, and the agreement positions both companies well to grow together. Mercedes-Benz has also been one of our earliest test customers for our new digital solutions which has helped drive business efficiency throughout the body shop network," said Chris Jackman, Director of Global Strategic Account Management, BASF Automotive Refinish Coatings Solutions.

As part of the complete offer to Mercedes-Benz, BASF will deliver a complete offering of digital and data solutions including its highly efficient digital color management tools, which help body shops to speed up workflows. Its digital portable spectrophotometers precisely measure the color on the car, and quickly and easily takes the painter to the desired mixing formula.

To meet the increasing demand from the automotive refinish industry to improve overall levels of efficiency, productivity and sustainability, BASF recently launched its eco-friendliest line automotive refinish solutions. The innovative product line further boosts body shop efficiency while reducing their environmental footprint.