Axalta Makes a Splash with 2020 Global Automotive Color of the Year “Sea Glass”

Axalta made a splash by unveiling its 2020 Global Automotive Color of the Year “Sea Glass.” “Sea Glass” is shimmering shade of turquoise blue that is expected to set a trend as a fresh new color meant for all vehicle types.

Sea Glass has been inspired by the waterways and oceans seen in nature, and is bound to be a color that would be highly desired by consumers, thanks to its depth and intense color.

According to Axalta’s 2019 Global Automotive Color Popularity Report, blue vehicles account for are seven percent of the global automotive market, fifth overall following white, black, gray and silver. Regions with the highest level of blue vehicles are North America and Europe at ten percent. “The trend toward turquoise blues is growing,” said Nancy Lockhart, Axalta Global Product Manager – Color. “Sea Glass was designed for all vehicle types, from compact and sport vehicles to medium sedans and large SUVs and trucks.”

In addition to being beautiful and trendy, Sea Glass has been formulated for reflective properties and is highly detectable by LIDAR systems making it appropriate for use in the age of self-driving vehicles. “Bright and pearlescent, Sea Glass is designed to be transmissible for Radio Detection And Ranging (RADAR), meeting the color trends of today for the autonomous vehicles of tomorrow,” commented Lockhart. “The transmission properties of Axalta’s Sea Glass, as well as many colors in our expansive color portfolio, allow vehicle-to-vehicle detection to occur.”

“Sea Glass is ready for the market now,” said Dan Benton, Axalta Marketing Manager – Color. “Formulations for this versatile color are available in our global waterborne technologies, and we are ready for customers who are actively looking for the next trend color.” All of Axalta’s brands, including Cromax, Standox and Spies Hecker will have Sea Glass ready for painters to use for their next project.

Axalta is a one of the leading players in the manufacture of quick-drying waterborne products that are easy to apply, deliver outstanding adhesion and variable gloss levels. They are environment friendly with low levels of toxicity and flammability, thus making them an environmentally responsible choice for any business.

Lockhart said Sea Glass is reminiscent of fresh water and ecology and aligns nicely with the company’s corporate social responsibility platform of environmental stewardship.

Lockhart said. “Axalta employees are inspired and motivated to help keep our waterways clean, lower energy and decrease water usage at our facilities around the globe.” According to Lockhart, in conjunction with the release of the 2020 Automotive Color of the Year and as part of its CSR program, Axalta will strive to remove over 1,000 pounds of waste from oceans.

Axalta is committed to environmental stewardship across the world through its Bright Futures program. As part of the initiative, the company contributed to the effort to conserve over 13,000 acres of wetlands by teaming up with Ducks Unlimited in North America and Ducks Unlimited de Mexico, helped plant over 30,000 trees in Inner Mongolia and Hebei Province as part of China Mother River Protection Program in collaboration with the China Youth Development Foundation; tied up with the S.M. Sehgal Foundation in India to build three ponds having a capacity of over 30 million liter capacity in the drought-stricken Bhooriya Baas village in Alwar district and several similar conservation and environmental stewardship programs around the world.