Nissan develops car paint that fixes scratches

updated 9:14 a.m. ET Dec. 5, 2005

TOKYO - Nissan's new car paint repairs its own scratches and scrapes.

Minor scruffs disappear like magic in about a week on cars that have Scratch Guard Coat, a clear paint that the Japanese automaker developed with Nippon Paint Co., company spokesman Kiyoshi Ariga said Monday.

The coating, which Tokyo-based Nissan Motor Co. says is the first of its kind in the world, contains elastic resin, similar to a rubbery surface, and can repair itself of slight scratches caused by car-washing, off-road driving and fingernails.

Car-washing machines account for most car surface scratches, according to Nissan, which showed before and after photos of a car with scratches on the hood and one with no scratches a week later. The coat lasts about three years, Nissan said.

The scratch-proof paint job will be offered only in some Japan models of the X-Trail sport-utility vehicle, planned for sale soon, and overseas plans are still undecided, Ariga said. It may be offered in other models, but no decision has been made, he said.

In terms of costs, Nissan would only say Scratch Guard Coat costs a hundred dollars extra.

MORE FROM AUTOS

Autos Section Front

Jaguar takes leap forward with new model GM windshield would watch the road with you GM’s challenge: Automaker not known for cars Calif. cities top list of car-theft hot spots NYC yellow cabs get help in going green Newsweek: Paypal founder's idea for solar car GM to cut thousands more jobs, sell assets Interactive: A brand-by-brand look at General Motors   Video: GM's CEO Rick Wagoner on cutbacks Collapse of crossover market hurts automakers Autos Section Front   Add Autos headlines to your news reader: