Stellantis has selected ABB’s PixelPaint technology to deliver precision paint finishes for DS Automobiles’ new DS N°8 all-electric flagship.
The technology with mono coat paint from Nippon Paint will be used at Stellantis’ Melfi plant in Italy to create the duo-tone paintwork for DS N°8 flagship.
The technology is expected to enhance production efficiency and sustainability when it becomes operational in the second half of 2025.
ABB Robotics Automotive Business Line managing director Joerg Reger highlighted the benefits of PixelPaint, stating, "PixelPaint is increasingly being recognised by some of the world's leading automotive designers who are seeking to create extraordinary finishes for their customers."
Reger explained that the traditional process for the DS N°8's deep-black duo-tone paintwork would be laborious and energy-intensive, but PixelPaint eliminates the need for complex manual masking and multiple paintshop trips.
PixelPaint utilises a paint head with over 1,000 individually controlled nozzles, mounted on ABB robots like the IRB 5500 paint series. This system, paired with a 3D vision system and coordinated by ABB's RobotStudio software, ensures precise paint application without overspray, thus aligning with DS Automobiles' sustainability goals.
Stellantis head of paint process engineering Silvio Licitra said: “DS N°8 redefines the French Art of Travel. Its sleek contours are an invitation to cover long distances in serene, all-electric comfort, while the extended duo-tone paintwork with its sharply-defined lines are an ultra-modern reinterpretation of historic French coachbuilding.
“ABB’s PixelPaint enables this meeting of design and sustainability, an expression of technological excellence fused with the refined aesthetics synonymous with our avant-garde heritage.”
Inspired by DS Automobiles’ DS Aero Sport Lounge concept SUV, DS N°8 boasts a combined range of 750km (WLTP cycle) and more than 500km on the motorway.
Stellantis said DS N°8’s cockpit redefines standards for comfort and embodies a new French art of travel. Its advanced connectivity depends on artificial intelligence, making the in-car experience more seamless.
DS N°8 utilises the Stellantis Group’s STLA Medium platform, the company’s battery-electric vehicle platform designed for the C and D segments.
