BASF Introduces a New Easy-to-Find, Easy-to-Use Automotive Refinish Website

basfrefinish.com is One-Stop Source For Content on Product, Color, Training And More

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 19 -- BASF's Automotive Refinish business has announced the launch of basfrefinish.com, the flagship of its extensive Internet and eCommerce portfolio.

Designed for collision repair shops and distributors, basfrefinish.com is a one-stop, password-enabled resource that greatly simplifies customer access to information and tools, most of which were previously available only in BASF mailings, by special order, or through company sales representatives.

The new BASF website includes a wide range of information, most of it in PDF form for viewing, downloading or printing.

  Product, application and safety
  * Information about Glasurit(R), R-M(R) and Limco(R) products.
  * Technical manuals, technical data sheets, product wall charts,
    bulletins, MSDS data.

  Color management
  * Formula look-up, plus information about color charts, variant decks and
    chip books.

  SmartTools(TM)
  * Descriptions of BASF's electronic and Web-enabled color-management and
    inventory-management tools.

  Training
  * Course descriptions, schedules and training sites.

  VisionPLUS(R)
  * VisionPLUS On-Line link.
  * VisionPLUS University course and seminar descriptions, schedules and
    online registration.

  Fleet and OEM Connection
  * Information about BASF's fleet offerings and working relationships with
    the world's top automotive manufacturers.

  News
  * Press releases, product announcements, Saleen Racing Team schedule.

Users of the website also have access to Glasurit, R-M and Limco "sitelets," which offer a wealth of brand-specific information and extras -- technical literature, order forms, bulletins, selling and productivity tools and logo art -- and a BASF sitelet, with PDFs of company image brochures and advertising.

Full use of the website is membership-based, with access to certain information restricted to either body shops or to jobbers. Unregistered guests, however, can view most of the information on the site.

The basfrefinish.com site is very easy to use, enables customers to find important information quickly and efficiently, and reduces their dependence on BASF sales representatives, who can focus on helping customers resolve more challenging problems, noted Darlene Eilenberger, Brand Marketing Manager, Automotive Refinish. "Basfrefinish.com is the latest advancement in BASF's strategy to harness the power and potential of the Internet to help our customers," she said.

Eilenberger pointed out that the site is not only easy to find on the Internet, but easy to remember, too. "If you're looking for information about BASF's automotive refinish business, what can be simpler and more intuitive than the words 'BASF refinish'? The website's name says it all."

R-M, Limco, and VisionPLUS are registered trademarks of BASF Corporation. ColorSource is a registered service mark of BASF Corporation. Glasurit is a registered trademark of BASF Coatings AG. Helping Make Products Better is a trademark of BASF Corporation

BASF: Helping Make Products Better(TM)

BASF is the world's leading chemical company, offering its customers a range of high-performance products, including chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as crude oil and natural gas. Its distinctive approach to integration, known in German as "Verbund," is its strength. It enables BASF to achieve cost leadership and gives the company a competitive advantage. BASF conducts its business in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. In 2002, BASF had sales of $34 billion and more than 89,000 employees worldwide. BASF Corporation is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. In North America, 2002 sales were approximately $8.2 billion and the company employs approximately 12,000 people. For more information or to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.