DETROIT – As the North American International Auto Show in Detroit shifted into full gear, the buzz in the industry continued around fuel efficiency, CAFE standards and how car companies are responding to demands for more sustainable vehicles. At a press conference prior to the show’s opening, representatives from PPG showed how the company’s innovations help improve many parts of a car, from environmentally friendly electrocoat to more compact paint systems.

PPG’s Cindy Niekamp

Cindy Niekamp, Senior Vice President, Automotive OEM Coatings, kicked off the press conference with a discussion of PPG’s commitment to innovation. Niekamp noted that the company has been awarded an R&D 100 Award nine times in the last 14 years and has received an Automotive News PACE Award six times in the last 10 years. And while she presented cars at the Auto Show that feature PPG colors, including the Chevrolet Spark’s Techno Pink and the Dodge Dart’s Redline, she also pointed out that PPG provides more than color to the automotive industry, helping car companies achieve efficiency, energy conservation and light-weighting.

Tim Knavish, Vice President, Automotive OEM Coatings, introduced Enviro-Prime^® 7000 Electrocoat, which offers improved corrosion protection while reducing excess. The new product offers 20-30 percent exterior usage reduction with the same coverage for recessed/interior areas. This optimized material usage helps car companies reduce vehicle weight. It also reduces OEM energy consumption and CO₂ and VOC emissions. The product is being used in the United States and the Asia-Pacific region and is slated to be rolled out in Europe and South America in 2012.