Global Conference on Car Body Painting 2026

Global Conference on Car Body Painting 2026

Electrification, sustainability and future paint technologies – discussed by leading experts from Europe, the USA and Asia.

Including exclusive technology deep-dive with hands-on focus.

Global Conference on Car Body Painting 2026 is Automotive Circle’s most international paint conference with strong participation from the USA and Asia. The conference focuses on future-shaping technology for automotive paint shops – beyond day-to-day operations. Learn how OEMs, suppliers and research institutes worldwide are addressing sustainability and electrification in the paint shop, digitalisation incl. AI, and future-ready paint processes.

Exclusive Technology Deep Dive
Only at this conference, selected topics are explored in workshop-style deep dives. These sessions allow for in-depth technical discussion, direct exchange with experts and hands-on strategic insight – far beyond standard conference presentations.

Why attend

  • Global perspectives from Europe, USA and Asia
  • Strategy-focused technology insights for paint shops
  • One dedicated deep dive per topic with workshop character
  • Direct exchange with key industry stakeholders and leading experts
  • A high-level, international network you won’t find elsewhere

Join the global dialogue and shape the future of car body painting.

We are looking forward to meeting you in Berlin (Germany) in July 2026!

You can get an impression of the conference by checking out our review of the last conference.

Don’t miss any updates by following our LinkedIn Account and the Hashtag #ACstrategiesCBP

Call for Speakers

The expert network would like to discuss the innovations and recent technological advancements in the following areas:

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FROM ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

  • Sustainability in the paint shop – combining the product and the process in innovative future systems
  • Sustainability of the paint shop in combination with the whole production facility
  • New approaches for the global, efficient paint shop
  • New applications (e.g. overspray free)
  • Energy concepts covering the entire painting process
  • New developments for the pre-treatment
  • New developments around pigments
  • Savings through current developments in dry separation, air circulation technology and exhaust air purification
  • Resource conservation as green technology
  • Recycled materials and their acceptance
  • Co-operations between OEM and suppliers

AUTOMATION AND DIGITALISATION

IMPACT OF E-MOBILITY ON PAINTING PROCESSES

  • Body structures of the future and their impact on surface technology
  • Standardized battery systems and their challenge for the “paint” domain
  • Special surface protection measures in the use of alternative drives
  • Co-operations between OEM and suppliers
  • New surface concepts (e.g. black plastics without painting, two tone)

STRATEGIES IN GLOBAL MARKETS / INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

  • How to achieve efficiency-transfer
  • Developments in global markets
  • Paint strategies in the various countries
  • Progress reports on international paint shop projects
  • Investment – Brownfield vs. Greenfield
  • Individualization vs. simplified processes

Interested speakers are kindly requested to submit an abstract of their suggested contribution via our online form. (Based on your input, the OEM Advisory Board of the conference will evaluate your suggestion. Please note that all presentations have to be submitted and held in English. Presentation time is 25 min, plus 5 min Q&A.

IMPORTANT DATES
  • Deadline to submit an abstract/presentation proposal: February 28, 2026
  • Notification of acceptance: end of March 2026
  • Publication of conference program: early April 2026

Conference Program

Take a look at the 2024 program, the 2026 program will be published March/April 2026

Participants

International OEM Advisory Board

Dr. Alexander Lemke

AUDI AG

Peter Kramer

BMW

Matthias Wiedeking

Ford-Werke GmbH

Dave Green

Jaguar Land Rover Group Ltd.

Dr. Julia Schuchardt

Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Shinji Matsuda

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.

Martin Knoll

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

Raphael Draber

Groupe Renault

Iris Menke-Hermani

Stellantis, DE

Rodolphe Anquetil

Stellantis

Silvio Licitra

Stellantis

Martin Söldner

Volkswagen AG

Zoltan Horvath

Toyota Motor Europe

Malin Dahlén

Volvo Car Corporation

  • Paint shop engineers responsible for developing and establishing new strategies, concepts, structures, processes and systems
  • Paint shop managers, planners and employees of OEM
  • Suppliers and service providers
  • Experts from institutes

All responsible for projects regarding Strategies in Car Body Painting in the areas of pre-development, development, planning and production.

Become A Sponsor or Exhibitor

Take advantage of the high coverage of the Automotive Circle and profit from the sponsoring options before and during the events. Show your competence and services, matching the conference subjects, to the numerous car body engineers of international OEM. Thus, you are strengthening your brand awareness in the automotive industry!

Come on board as an exhibitor or sponsor and benefit from this excellent platform to strongly promote your company’s capabilities as a reliable supplier!

Check out the various exhibition and sponsoring options!

If you have any question or want to request additional information on exhibition & sponsoring options, please contact Ms. Frauke Haentsch.

More Information

Super Early Bird

Participation fee

1.995 €*

for registrations received by April 7, 2026

Early Bird

Participation fee

2.195 €*

for registrations received by June 7, 2026

Standard

Participation fee

2.295 €*

for registrations received after June 7, 2026

Organizer

Vincentz Network GmbH & Co. KG
Plathnerstrasse 4c
30175 Hannover, Germany

T. +49 511 9910 – 383
www.automotive-circle.com
wiebke.drohla@vincentz.net

Date & Venue

Conference: July 7 – 8, 2026

Digital Participation
or
On site Participation @

nhow BERLIN
Stralauer Allee 3
10245 – Berlin

T +49 6032 303-0
F +49 6032 303-529
info@dolcebadnauheim.com
www.dolcebadnauheim.com

Accommodation is available at the conference hotel.

We kindly ask you to make your own hotel reservation at the conference hotel.

The following cancellation conditions apply for all categories:

All reservations can be cancelled free of charge up to 4 weeks before arrival. Up to 2 weeks before arrival 60% of the room rate will be due. From 2 weeks before arrival 80 % will be charged.

Participation Fee

On site or digital participation (choice is all yours):

Trust-Rate
1.995 €*
for registrations received by April 7, 2026
Early-bird
2.195 €*
for registrations received by June 7, 2026
Standard
2.295 €*
for registrations received after June 7, 2026

Students will get 50 % discount on standard prices on presentation of a valid student ID.
A 10% group discount on the rate that is valid at the time of registration is available. This will apply when 5 or more attendees from the same company address register at the same time.
The access data for the digital conference participation will be send out via E-Mail approx. one week prior the conference. The prerequisite for this is that all payments have been recieved in full.

* All prices plus 19 % German VAT. All conferences in Europe are subject to VAT. To reclaim, please contact your local tax office.

Participation fee includes

On site participation: Fees including full conference participation, incl. conference materials and list of delegates, the authority for downloading the presentation on the internet, luncheons, catering, the participation in the evening networking event and on-demand access to the presentation videos for 2 weeks after the conference.

Digital participation: Fees including full digital conference participation, incl. conference materials and list of delegates, the authority for downloading the presentation on the internet and on-demand access to the presentation videos for 2 weeks after the conference.

Registration

Registration is preferably done via the event’s website, alternatively by e-mail or regular mail. The confirmation of participation and invoice will be sent via e-mail. Without this confirmation, there is no claim to participation in the booked event. Registrations will be considered in the order in which they are received, except EuroCarBody. However, the number of participants is limited in all cases.

Technical Platform for digital participation

This virtual event of the Automotive Circle is planned and conducted using electronic tools and platforms. The following tools are used:

  • Cvent Attendee Website (via browser, compatible with the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Microsoft Edge)
  • Vimeo Player

Each participant is responsible for using these tools. If it is not possible to use them, e.g. due to internal company requirements, this does not entitle the participant to canceled the digital participation free of charge.

Conference Language

The conference is held exclusively in English. All documents are predominantly composed in the English language.

Cancellations

Fees will be refunded in full if notice of cancellation is received by June 8, 2026. Please understand that event preparation and organization involve financial and human resources. Therefore a fee of 50% of the participation fee will be charged, if the notification of cancellation is received after June 8, 2026. Should notification reach us after October 21, 2025, or in case of non-participation, 100% of the participation fee will be charged. Substitutions of delegates may be made at any time.

Cancellations and changes must be made in writing and will be confirmed by the organizer. Cancellations due to health reasons can be cancelled free of charge at any time with a medical certificate. If a participant is demonstrably unable to attend due to travel restrictions, he/she has the option of converting the attendance participation into a digital participation (if this is offered). Any cost differences will be reimbursed).

The participant undertakes to follow the instructions of the organizer and the venue. Failure to do so may result in exclusion from the event.

The organizer reserves the right to change the program or to cancel the event in the event of special circumstances (important reason). In particular, the organizer is entitled to take such measures in cases of force majeure, due to official orders, in the event of a situation endangering the life, body or health of the participants. In these cases, the organizer shall not be obliged to pay damages and/or reimbursement of expenses to the participants. This applies in particular to any cancellation fees incurred by third parties (e.g. hotel bookings, train or flight tickets).

If the digital event has to be canceled by the organizer due to insufficient number of participants, technical complications or due to illness of one or more speakers, already paid participation fees will be refunded in full. Further claims do not exist.

Invitation Letters

Please contact us if you need invitation letters for visa requirements. We will be happy to assist with this after we have received your registration. There requests are usually handled by us within 2 working days and we typically send the invitation letters out as a PDF file via eMail. If you require an original letter we can sent it out by regular mail. Please understand that if you need letters sent via express mail that we have to further the delivery and handling costs to you.

Program Changes

Automotive Circle reserve the right to revise event content and change implementation tools. There is no claim to a specific lecture, workshop or references. Registered trademarks: No guarantee is given that the products, processes and other names mentioned are free of third-party property rights.

Data Protection

As participant of an event, you agree that data such as company, address (zip code, city, country), first name, name and job function of the attendee will be published on the list of participants. The list of participants is available to all participants in digital form. The list of participants could also be used by sponsors and exhibitors for advertising purposes. Objection against publication and circulation of your data may be made at any time until 3 weeks prior to the event and has to be made in writing to the organizer. The address data are processed for customer service and information purposes in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Company’s name, city and country might be published on the Internet as reference for upcoming Automotive Circle events. Personal data will be forwarded to the local health authority on request.

Pictures, Videos & Recordings

By registering you understand that your participation and attendance at the event may be videotaped, filmed and/or audio recorded. You agree that the recording may be used for any lawful purposes that Vincentz Network, or its designees, in their sole discretion, may determine.

Picture credits

©Blue Planet Studio – stock.adobe.com, Vincentz Network

Miscellaneous

With your binding registration you agree that film, image, word and sound recordings may be made of you during the event. These recordings may be used without restriction by Vincentz Network or authorized parties in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Also have a look at our Privacy Policy.

Hanover, October 2025

Register now

By submitting this form, the booking is finalized and processed automatically. Invoice amendments or additions after submission, including purchase order numbers, are not possible.

Review

Flashback Strategies in Car Body Painting 2024

Flashback Strategies in Car Body Painting 2022

Your Contacts

Frauke Haentsch

Director Sales

+49 511 9910-340

Wiebke Drohla

Senior Event Manager

+49 511 9910-383