Axalta Announces Orange ‘Solar Boost’ as its 2026 Global Automotive Color of the Year
Axalta (NYSE: AXTA) on Jan 13, 2026 named Solar Boost its 2026 Global Automotive Color of the Year, a warm, champagne-flaked orange designed for modern vehicles.
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Axalta (NYSE: AXTA) on Jan 13, 2026 named Solar Boost its 2026 Global Automotive Color of the Year, a warm, champagne-flaked orange designed for modern vehicles.
Axalta says Solar Boost targets buyers seeking expressive, individualistic colors, citing its global research that "more than 80 percent of buyers consider" color a key buying factor. The choice highlights growing interest in saturated hues across North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific and marks Axalta's 12th Color of the Year amid 160 years in color design and coatings.
Details
News Market Reaction – AXTA
On Jan 13, the day this news came out, AXTA closed 0.24% above the previous close.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Jan 13 session.
Key Figures
- Color of the Year
- 2026
- Axalta Global Automotive Color of the Year designation
- Buyer color importance
- more than 80%
- Share of vehicle buyers citing color as key factor
- Program duration
- 12th year
- Years Axalta has celebrated Automotive Color of the Year
- Color design experience
- 160 years
- Axalta experience in color design leadership and forecasting
- Current price
- $32.99
- Pre-news trading level for AXTA
- 52-week high
- $38.37
- Upper end of AXTA’s 52-week range
- 52-week low
- $26.28
- Lower end of AXTA’s 52-week range
- Market capitalization
- $7,044,599,761
- Equity value prior to this news
Historical Context
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Set timing for Q4 and full-year 2025 results and conference call.
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Reported safety and emissions improvements and external sustainability recognitions.
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Released 73rd Global Automotive Color Popularity Report with regional color trends.
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Won 2025 R&D 100 Award for Fast Cure Low Energy paint system.
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Announced all-stock merger of equals with AkzoNobel targeting synergies and scale.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
oems technical
evs technical
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Bold and brilliant orange evoke a sense of optimism and energy that meets consumers’ emerging preferences for expressive colors and modern finishes
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global coatings company, today announced its 2026 Global Automotive Color of the Year -- Solar Boost -- a warm and inviting orange tone that shimmers with an energy all its own. Designed for modern vehicles, this boldly dynamic hue is infused with champagne-colored flakes to deliver a confident, exceptional expression that radiates from sunrise to sunset.
“A vehicle’s color heavily shapes its initial perception, affecting how buyers feel about its safety, sportiness, elegance and even resale value, making color a significant influence in the buying decision,” said Hadi Awada, President, Global Mobility Coatings at Axalta. “In fact, Axalta’s own research has shown more than 80 percent of buyers consider it a key factor, which is why it’s so critical for OEMs to understand dynamic global consumer sentiments and align their vehicle color portfolio accordingly.”
Solar Boost reflects a shift toward individualistic design choices as consumers increasingly seek vehicles that express personal identity. Its bold hue aligns with growing interest in expressive colors beyond traditional neutrals, particularly among younger and trend-conscious buyers.
Grounded in Axalta’s global color research, orange is emerging as a shade that connects emotional expression around the world. In North America, it evokes warmth, optimism, and creative energy, often linked to friendliness and bold lifestyle branding or streetwear. In Latin America, it reflects vibrancy and celebration, symbolizing life and joyful expression. Across Asia Pacific, bold and saturated hues continue to gain traction, including orange shades and accents which are increasingly used to help vehicles project identity and stand out in fast-growing segments such as EVs. Solar Boost captures that shared sense of positivity and momentum, making it a powerful statement color for drivers who want their vehicles to reflect individuality and confidence.
“Solar Boost is the result of our team’s deep experience in both the art and science of color,” said Robert Roop, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Axalta. “Elements of human psychology and popular culture inform our choice of color; then we apply our expertise in color science, optics, and coating formulations to transform color into a manufacturable coating that is beautiful, durable and sustainable.”
This marks the 12th year Axalta has celebrated an Automotive Color of the Year, highlighting 160 years of experience in color design leadership, innovation, and forecasting future mobility coating trends. Axalta’s color experts meet regularly to analyze automotive trends and anticipate how consumer color preferences are evolving. Their guidance helps vehicle manufacturers choose colors that will resonate with buyers.
For more information about Axalta’s 2026 Global Automotive Color of the Year and the company’s color capabilities, visit axalta.com/color.
About Axalta
Axalta is a global leader in the coatings industry, providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable coatings solutions. From light vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, building facades and other industrial applications, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enhance durability. With more than 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, the global team at Axalta continues to find ways to serve our more than 100,000 customers in over 140 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information visit axalta.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
| Axalta Coating Systems 1050 Constitution Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19112 axalta.com | Global Media Contact axalta-media-relations@axalta.com |
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0be504d6-b9c9-4ac1-abfd-21e3660ababf
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