Basel, Switzerland – 8 April 2020 – Mercedes-Benz AG has renewed its approval of Spies Hecker and Standox – two of the premium, global refinish brands of Axalta (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global manufacturer of liquid and powder coatings. Effective 1 April 2020, Spies Hecker and Standox are once again approved for use across the Mercedes-Benz network in 11 European countries, until 31 March 2023. This agreement is in addition to Mercedes-Benz approvals already in place with Spies Hecker and Standox in over 60 countries globally.

Additionally, Standox is awarded Mercedes-Benz Preferred Partner Status in the Czech Republic, Italy and Spain.

Bart De Groof, Commercial Director for Axalta’s Refinish business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), says, “Car manufacturers need paint brands they can trust to deliver a high-quality finish for repairs and Axalta’s Spies Hecker and Standox brands have been approved for just that by Mercedes-Benz for over 20 years. We are very proud to be continuing our successful alliance with Mercedes-Benz in 2020 and beyond.”

Spies Hecker’s Hi-TEC and Standoblue from Standox, the brands’ third-generation waterborne basecoats, are particularly well-suited to the Mercedes-Benz network as they provide excellent colour matching and customised solutions for superior and durable finishes. Under the terms of the agreement, Spies Hecker and Standox will not only supply Mercedes-Benz bodyshops with refinish paint, but also will provide the highest quality technical training, colour management assistance and general consulting and support.

The newly signed approval covers France, Portugal, Switzerland and Italy for Spies Hecker. For Standox, it comprises Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Switzerland.

Spies Hecker is also currently approved by the Mercedes-Benz network in the following countries: Austria, Bahrain, China, Croatia, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and the United States

Standox is also currently approved by the Mercedes-Benz network in following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Syria, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the United States, Uruguay and Yemen

The re-approval follows a standard audit performance check of Axalta’s biggest waterborne coatings production site globally in Wuppertal, Germany, which passed with flying colours.

For more information please visit www.refinish.axalta.eu.

About Axalta Refinish

Axalta Refinish - part of Axalta, a leading global company focused solely on coatings – is a valued, reliable global paint repair partner to our customers, who demand nothing short of total customer satisfaction. We give them confidence in our fast, efficient, high-quality coating technologies and integrated digital business processes, making the entire paint repair journey faster, easier and more profitable. With more than 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, our dedication to innovation and our constantly-developing technology means we offer our customers an unlimited colour choice for perfect colour matches. Most importantly, we work tirelessly to anticipate our customers’ needs so they can address the challenges they face every day. We have an impressive portfolio of brands for every bodyshop requirement, for every segment of the market, and for every level of market maturity. For more information visit refinish.axalta.eu and follow us on LinkedIn