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Motor Vehicle Painting in Germany - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Ashkan Salim Ashkan Salim Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: May 2025 WZ SP45.04DE Spotlight Report

Revenue

€3.7bn

2025

€3.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

33,429

Businesses

4,042

Wages

€X.Xbn

Motor Vehicle Painting in Germany industry analysis

In recent years, the German automotive painting industry has been characterised by stable demand, which is primarily due to the high number of road accidents. Accident damage to the paintwork and bodywork ensured reliable capacity utilisation at workshops, regardless of economic fluctuations. Close co-operation with insurance companies and car dealerships also contributed to a high order backlog. In addition, the steadily increasing average age of the vehicle fleet meant that older vehicles required more maintenance, value retention and repairs, particularly for minor paint damage and weather-related defects. Turnover in the automotive paint shop sector has risen by an average of 3.4% per year since 2020 to 3.7 billion euros.
In 2025, industry turnover is expected to grow by 2%. The industry is currently experiencing an increase in demand, as both the number of vehicles on the road and their average age in Germany are reaching new highs. The increasing volume of repairs and the value retention effect are opening up additional market potential, particularly in the area of customisation using airbrush technology, wrapping and vehicle lettering. Many companies are investing heavily in modern painting technologies, efficient smart repair processes and digital services in order to optimise their processes and further improve quality. Automated processes, energy-efficient paint booths and innovative colour measurement systems noticeably improve process quality. Modern automation and painting technologies enable automotive paint shops to achieve particularly high profit margins compared to other trades, as they increase efficiency, quality and sustainability and thus open up new investment and growth opportunities.
In the next five years, turnover in the automotive paint shop industry is expected to grow by an average of 1.8% per year and reach a value of 4.1 billion euros in 2030. The automotive paint industry in Germany is facing fundamental changes. Increasingly stringent environmental regulations and growing environmental awareness among customers are encouraging the switch to environmentally friendly, water-based paints, which requires investment in modern technologies and higher employee qualifications. The industry-wide shortage of skilled labour makes targeted recruitment, further training and attractive working conditions essential. Despite consolidation, the industry remains highly fragmented, meaning that smaller, specialised companies with niche offerings such as special-effect paintwork, vehicle lettering or services for classic car and tuning customers will continue to have attractive growth opportunities. Innovation and environmental expertise are therefore key success factors for the future of the industry.

Trends and Insights

  • The market for car painting remains robust. A high number of road accidents and the growing interest in vehicle customisation ensure constant demand for professional painting services.
  • Vehicle paintwork improves the visual appearance of vehicles. Vehicle paintwork offers individual design options and protection against environmental influences, which makes it particularly attractive for private customers to upgrade their vehicle.
  • The market is fragmented The market concentration in the car painting sector is low, as there are a large number of small and medium-sized companies that only operate regionally and can only offer their services to customers in the immediate vicinity.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
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Access hundreds of data points and trends

  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €3.7bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Demand for painting work remains constant due to road accidents

  • The current situation in the German automotive refinishing industry is largely determined by the development of road accident figures. According to preliminary figures from the Federal Statistical Office, the number of road accidents registered by the police rose from 2.3 million in 2021 to 2.5 million in 2024. This is leading to a sustained high demand for repairs in the paint and bodywork sector.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Motor Vehicle Painting in Germany
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Stricter legal requirements and growing environmental awareness among consumers are encouraging the switch to environmentally friendly paints

  • In light of increasingly strict European and national environmental regulations - for example as part of the 31st BImSchV (Federal Immission Control Ordinance) - a comprehensive substitution of traditional solvent-based coatings with water-based coating systems in German automotive paint shops is to be expected in the medium term. Water-based basecoats emit significantly fewer VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and, thanks to technological advances, now offer comparable processing and drying times as well as visual results and durability to conventional systems.

Biggest companies in the Motor Vehicle Painting in Germany

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Motor Vehicle Painting in Germany industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Motor Vehicle Painting in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Spraying and painting of motor vehicles, Labelling of vehicles and Airbrush. Spraying and painting of motor vehicles is the largest segment of the Motor Vehicle Painting in Germany.

Trends and Insights

The spraying and painting of motor vehicles is carried out in particular for the purpose of vehicle valorisation

  • Autopainting is a service for renewing or customising the exterior appearance of cars and other vehicles. This service usually involves the application of primers, paints and protective coatings to protect the vehicle from environmental influences and improve its appearance.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The automotive paint shop industry includes services that focus on the spraying, painting and labelling of motor vehicles, with these activities taking place outside of the original manufacturing process. This industry includes techniques such as airbrushing, vehicle lettering with paint or film and computer lettering, in which individual or commercial design requests are implemented.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany include Spraying and painting of motor vehicles, not as part of the manufacturing process, Airbrush and Labelling of motor vehicles.

Companies

Companies covered in the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany include .

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany include precision spray gun, airbrushing, voc (volatile organic compounds), water-based varnishes and hydrophobic coatings.

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 45.20.1 - Motor Vehicle Painting in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The market for car painting remains robust. A high number of road accidents and the growing interest in vehicle customisation ensure constant demand for professional painting...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Factors that influence volatility in the industry
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Vehicle paintwork improves the visual appearance of vehicles. Vehicle paintwork offers individual design options and protection against environmental influences, which makes ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

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In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The market is fragmented The market concentration in the car painting sector is low, as there are a large number of small and medium-sized companies that only operate regional...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Autopainters in Germany must above all comply with the laws on environmental protection and occupational safety. These regulate the handling of chemicals, emissions and the d...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Specialised services increase profit margins. Car painters who focus on special painting techniques or designs can charge higher prices and improve their profitability.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

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What is the market size of the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany in 2025?

The market size of the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany is €3.7bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany in 2025?

There are 4,042 businesses in the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 3.4 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What does the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany include?

Spraying and painting of motor vehicles, not as part of the manufacturing process and Airbrush are part of the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany.

How competitive is the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Motor Vehicle Painting industry in Germany.

Related Industries

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Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

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