company Futian Xinshi. Financial
terms were not disclosed.
With approximate sales of
$15 million in 2016, Futian is
a privately owned company based in the
Guangdong province of China. Futian
distributes its products in China through
a network of more than 200 distributors.
PPG will acquire Futian’s trademarks,
product technology and customer list.
“The acquisition of Futian will further
enhance PPG’s position in the growing
Chinese automotive refinish coatings market,” said John Outcalt, PPG vice president,
global automotive refinish. “Futian has a
proven track record of growth and profitability by leveraging well-positioned brands,
mature technology, low-cost operations and
a solid-performing distribution base.”
Axalta Announces its
Automotive Color of the
Year 2017, Gallant Gray
Axalta Coating Systems announced its
Automotive Color of the Year 2017
– Gallant Gray. This luxurious color is
enhanced by blue and silver flakes that
produce a unique sparkle effect and dark
undertones that enrich the finish, adding sophistication. A year-long Color of
the Year celebration commenced with a
variety of events during the 2017 North
American International Auto Show
(NAIAS) Preview Days in Detroit including a video reveal at the EyesOn
Design awards program. The color was
also prominently featured at the Axalta-sponsored Charity Preview, which raises
funds to support services for children.
Daily inspirations, coupled with ex-
tensive research, helped Axalta color de-
signers and product experts select Gallant
Gray as the Automotive Color of the Year.
A high percentage of the market is inter-
ested in a neutral palette and adding slight
hints of hues can add life to these colors.
Gallant Gray is designed to look spec-
tacular on any size vehicle, according to
the company. The complex color is dark
in value with various sparkling flakes that
add depth and color.
“At Axalta, we monitor automotive
trends and forecast how color tastes are
changing in the automotive market,” said
Nancy Lockhart – Axalta Global Color
marketing manager. “We are pleased to
partner with automakers by using our
coatings to give their vehicles beauty and
character, and we’re confident customers
will appreciate Gallant Gray. With hints
of blue and green, it exemplifies moder-
nity and elegance. Taking everything into
account, we think Gallant Gray is the
new silver.”
Axalta’s recently released 2016
Global Automotive Color Popularity
Report, which documents vehicle color
trends by geography, showed a rise in
the popularity of gray shades around
the world. Neutral colors have domi-
nated the market over the last ten years.
Although white and black maintained
the top positions worldwide, gray is
now tied with silver for third place
