Ranking | Largest automotive coating brand in the Chinese market: Over 30 years of deep engagement, with revenue exceeding RMB 5 billion

Among them, Yatu High-Tech is China’s largest domestic automotive refinish paint brand; Jinlita is China’s largest commercial vehicle coating manufacturer; and Xiangjiang Paint ranks second on both the 2026 China Automotive OEM Coating Brand Top 10 List and the 2026 China Passenger Vehicle OEM Coating Brand Top 10 List—making it the highest-ranked domestic coating brand. Axalta ranks third. It is a global leader in high-performance and automotive coatings. Its origins trace back to Herbert GmbH, founded in Germany in 1866. In the late 1990s, DuPont acquired Herbert and integrated it with its own automotive coatings business to form DuPont Performance Coatings (DPC). In February 2013, Carlyle Group completed the acquisition of DPC and rebranded it as Axalta Coating Systems, headquartered in Philadelphia, USA. On November 18, 2025, Axalta announced a merger with Dutch coatings giant AkzoNobel, with completion scheduled for 2027. Axalta entered the Chinese market in 1984 and operates four wholly owned manufacturing facilities—in Changchun (Jilin), Jiading and Qingpu (Shanghai), and Ma’anshan (Anhui)—as well as one Asia-Pacific R&D Center, one Global Color Development Center, and four customer training centers. Its product portfolio covers automotive OEM coatings, refinish paints, powder coatings, and insulating coatings. Key customers include FAW Group, FAW-Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Chery, General Motors, and Sinotruk Group. In December last year, Axalta Coating Systems Shanghai’s Phase V technical renovation project passed final acceptance. The project involved a total investment of RMB 30 million and added an annual production capacity of 23,000 tons of automotive coatings—including 5,600 tons of clear coat, 2,400 tons of hardener, 2,200 tons of waterborne refinish paint, and 12,800 tons of waterborne topcoat. PPG (Pittsburgh Plate Glass) ranks second overall—and also tops the “2026 China Automotive Parts Coating Brand Top 10 List” (with Nippon Paint, AkzoNobel, Mankiewicz, and Helios ranking #2–#5), the “2026 China Automotive Refinish Paint Brand Top 10 List” (with Axalta, Yatu High-Tech, Donglai, and AkzoNobel at #2–#5), and the “2026 China New Energy Vehicle Battery Coating Brand Top 10 List” (second only to Jotun). PPG’s automotive refinish coatings entered China via trade channels in 1985, marking the beginning of its operations in the country. In April 1994, PPG Coatings (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. was registered in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area—the first PPG factory established in China. It supplies high-quality automotive coatings, industrial coatings, and other coating products. Customers include BYD, Great Wall Motors, Geely, Chery, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, FAW-Volkswagen, SAIC-Volkswagen, SAIC-GM, GAC Trumpchi, Li Auto, Voyah, Leapmotor, Xiaomi, Seres, Foton, Shaanxi Automobile, Scania, Yanfeng PY, Xinquan, LIZHONG, CITIC Dicastal, and Fuyao Group. Notable products include “Argyle Purple” (used on the BYD Yangwang U9) and “Dawn Red” (used on Chery Exeed Starry Era vehicles).

Understanding automotive coating systems: Mainstream OEM certification standards and access logic

Color Accuracy: Refinish coatings must cover the original factory color codes across all model years of the brand and demonstrate continuous updating capability. Global mainstream vehicle color databases must span decades of mainstream and niche vehicle colors. Coating Film Performance: Includes adhesion, weather resistance, corrosion resistance, and gloss stability—all subject to OEM-specified accelerated aging and mechanical performance tests. Environmental Compliance: VOC emissions must comply with regional regulatory requirements; waterborne technology is currently the dominant technical pathway. Application Stability: Certification evaluates not only the product itself but also whether the supporting application process is replicable, trainable, and traceable. II. Access Logic: From Product Validation to System Audit OEMs typically follow three stages when approving refinish coating suppliers: Stage One: Product Sample Testing. Suppliers submit complete system products (including primer, basecoat, clearcoat, and auxiliary materials), which undergo physical/chemical performance and color-matching testing in the OEM’s laboratory. Stage Two: Process System Audit. OEMs assess whether suppliers maintain standardized application procedures. For example, PPG’s 24-step standard refinish process divides repairs into five phases—surface preparation, body filler application, intermediate primer, waterborne basecoat, and clearcoat—comprising 24 discrete steps designed to restore original-factory appearance and structural integrity. This process underpins OEM after-sales lifetime warranty programs for refinish coatings. Stage Three: Ongoing Service Capability Assessment. This includes evaluation of technical training networks, frequency of color formula updates, supply chain stability, and responsiveness of after-sales technical support. III. Access Practices of Leading Brands Taking PPG as an example: It holds certifications from over 70 global automotive brands and has secured inclusion in the centralized procurement programs of more than 30 domestic OEMs. Publicly confirmed certified brands include Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Porsche. Behind this extensive certification footprint lies a convergence of multiple capabilities: Breadth of Color Database: Its LINQ Lingqu system database covers new energy vehicles produced in China, as well as German, Japanese, and American mainstream models—with matching precision down to metallic pigment particle size. Technical Training System: Four training centers operate in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Taipei, staffed by 10 full-time trainers averaging over 20 years of industry experience. Annual training volume spans center-based, on-site, and online formats. Supply Chain Assurance: Two major logistics hubs—located in Guangdong and Shanghai—enable nationwide delivery to service providers within 3–7 days. Products feature “one item, one code” end-to-end anti-counterfeiting traceability.

PPG Named Among Top 100 Players of China’s New Automotive Supply Chain by Gasgoo

1 day ago

PPG Industries was named a Top 100 Player in China’s New Automotive Supply Chain by Gasgoo for its 2026 Awards. The recognition highlights their AQUACRON® PWB waterborne basecoat and commitment to local innovation in the Chinese automotive market.

PPG Industries

2026-11-05

PPG Named Among Top 100 Players of China’s New Automotive Supply Chain by Gasgoo

PPG Named Among Top 100 Players of China’s New Automotive Supply Chain by Gasgoo

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