Nissan says its experimental radiative-cooling paint lowered a vehicle’s exterior surface temperature by up to 21.6°F (12°C) and its cabin temperature by up to 9°F (5°C) versus conventional automotive paint in a side-by-side sunlight trial. The 21.6°F figure is for the painted exterior—not the cabin—and Nissan still described the technology as being in the trial stage on its technology page marked May 2026.
What Nissan’s sunlight trial found
Nissan began a 12-month feasibility trial in November 2023 at Tokyo International Air Terminal at Haneda, Japan. The trial used a Nissan NV100 service vehicle operated by ANA airport services. Nissan, Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd., Radi-Cool Japan, and ANA airport services collaborated on the project.
Nissan compared two vehicles parked side by side in the sun: one coated with the experimental paint and one with traditional automotive paint. In its August 2024 announcement, Nissan reported the following maximum differences:
| Measure | Nissan-reported result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior surface temperature | Up to 21.6°F (12°C) lower than the traditionally painted vehicle | The headline figure refers to the vehicle’s exterior surface, not its cabin. |
| Interior temperature | Up to 9°F (5°C) lower than the traditionally painted vehicle | A separate cabin-temperature result, not a 21°F cabin reduction. |
Nissan’s current technology page, marked as of May 2026, gives the field-test results in Celsius: up to 12°C lower exterior surface temperature and up to 5°C lower cabin temperature. These are Nissan-reported “up to” results from the described trial, not guaranteed reductions across vehicles, weather, colors, climates, or driving conditions.
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The sources do not report measured savings in fuel, electricity, emissions, air-conditioning runtime, or the time needed to cool the cabin. Nissan presents reduced air-conditioning load on an engine or EV battery as a possible consequence of a cooler cabin, not as a quantified trial outcome.
How Nissan says the paint works
Nissan describes the coating as containing metamaterial with two types of microstructure particles. One reflects near-infrared sunlight that would otherwise heat the resin in conventional paint. The other generates electromagnetic waves that redirect energy away from the vehicle’s surfaces and toward the atmosphere. Nissan says the combined effect reduces heat transfer to painted areas such as the roof, hood, doors, and other panels.
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This is Nissan’s explanation of the mechanism; the cited sources are company materials and do not provide independent technical validation.
Why automotive paint is difficult to develop
A coating for a car must satisfy requirements beyond reducing heat. Nissan says the paint needs to work with a clear topcoat, be applied with a spray gun rather than a roller, and meet its internal automotive paint-quality standards.
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In 2024, Nissan said it had assessed resistance to salt, chipping, peeling, scratches, and chemical reactions, along with color consistency and repairability. The evaluated coating was 120 microns thick—about six times the thickness of typical automotive paint—and Nissan said it was investigating thinner versions. It also reported testing more than 100 paint samples.
Is Nissan’s cool paint available to buy?
No consumer purchase option is established in Nissan’s cited materials. The company’s technology page, marked as of May 2026, says the paint remains in the trial stage. In its August 2024 announcement, Nissan said it hoped the technology might eventually be offered by special order and in different colors; that was a development hope, not a production commitment or current sales offer.
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Nissan identifies vans, trucks, and ambulances that spend long periods outdoors as possible applications. That is a potential use case, not evidence of fleet deployment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the result means for drivers
The trial suggests the coating could reduce how much a vehicle heats up while parked in direct sunlight, with Nissan reporting a smaller but distinct improvement in cabin temperature. The results may be most relevant to vehicles that sit outdoors for extended periods. They do not establish how the paint performs across different vehicle models, colors, climates, road speeds, or everyday use.
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- 3M paint protection film is virtually invisible once installed.
- Clear polyurethane film is 6mil thick with adhesive backing.
- Product applied to reduce paint chips and road damage.
- Keeps your car's paint looking newer, longer!
For someone seeking relief while a car is parked, a windshield sunshade is a separate practical accessory—not part of Nissan’s trial, and not tested or endorsed by Nissan in the cited materials.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Nissan News (U.S.), “Nissan trialing cool paint technology,” August 6, 2024.
- Nissan Motor Corporation, “NISSAN cool paint technology,” page marked as of May 2026.
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