BMW shows off color changing car concept at CES 2023

BMW demonstrated a new color-changing technology which it says will allow drivers to transform their vehicle’s exterior on demand.

The German automaker revealed the feature at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. Using its “i Vision Dee” concept vehicle, BMW showed 32 different color possibilities to attendees. The technology is similar to that used in E-Ink tablet screens, which show data through panels comprised of small capsules loaded with electricity-sensitive pigments. BMW’s vehicle applies this at a much larger scale, with each surface of the car getting it’s own display. Displaying or changing colors requires very little electricity, meaning drivers will be able to use the feature without worrying about their battery life, and since the capsules are woven into a film which can be cut as needed, they can be applied on a variety of shapes or surfaces.

While the demonstration was promising, color-changing cars are still far from getting the commercial green-light. One of the chief issues with BMW’s color-changing panels are their lack of resistance to environmental hazards, although the automaker is considering a spray-applied protective coating. The concept car is expected to arrive in 2025, but it is unclear if it will do so with the feature intact.

Despite its limitations, the technology is still undeniably impressive. In 2021, BMW revealed a far less eye-catching version, which could only change between three monochromatic options. While commercial application is still in the future, the progress made in one year is promising, and signals the brand’s commitment to seeing it through. Needless to say, any automaker who figures out how to make the product work is guaranteed a massive return on investment.

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