What are the main steps in the automotive paint shop process?

The automotive paint process includes: 1) Pretreatment - cleaning and phosphate coating for corrosion resistance; 2) E-coat (electrodeposition) - immersion in charged paint bath for complete coverage including cavities; 3) Sealing - applying seam sealers and anti-chip coatings; 4) Primer - spray-applied layer for chip resistance and surface preparation; 5) Basecoat - color layer applied in spray booths; 6) Clearcoat - protective transparent topcoat for gloss and durability. Each layer requires baking/curing. Modern plants use waterborne paints and advanced application technology to minimize environmental impact while achieving high-quality finishes.