GUANGZHOU, China – PPG Industries recently helped organize the 7^th “PPG Cup” Auto Body Painting (Waterborne Paints) contest as part of the 2015 National Automotive Application and Repair Skills Competition in Guangzhou, China. Competition organizers also included the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the National Committee of the Chinese Seamen and Construction Workers Union, the Vocational Qualification Center-Ministry of Transport and China Automotive Maintenance and Repair Trade Association.

PPG provides eco-friendly waterborne paints and low-VOC, high-solids coatings for use by participants in the first nationwide individual contest in China for auto body painting in the transportation industry. The competition kicked off April 16 in Beijing and will last for seven months, with more than 10,000 contestants expected to take part in selection matches all over the country. The first match included 57 contestants and took place in Guangdong province, with Zhang Huijun of Meihuayuan Auto Body Repair in Guangzhou City earning first place.

“The purpose of this competition is to train professionals in using new technologies, processes and equipment and to promote the concept of sustainability in the automotive maintenance industry,” said Sun Shouren, President of the China Automotive Maintenance and Repair Trade Association.

A highlight of the competition was the “PPG Green Dream Car,” with a green body and color patterns symbolizing a sustainable industry that were painted using PPG waterborne paints and low-VOC/high-solids coatings. To announce the kickoff of the 7^th PPG Cup Auto Body Painting (Waterborne Paints) Contest, representatives from companies in the automotive repair industry including PPG executives Pauline Yuen, Vice President, Refinish Coatings and Light Industrial Coatings, Asia, and James Yang, PPG General Manager of Automotive Refinish and Light Industrial Coatings, Greater China, sounded the PPG Green Dream Car horn.