Axalta has teamed up with the Drive ONE youth automotive training school to enhance the latter’s facility with the installation of an Axalta paint booth that will allow students to learn the art of automobile refinishing. The booth will enable them to learn using the same techniques and equipment found in a professional bodyshop.

Axalta and Drive One have partnered on a number of projects since the school’s founding in 2016 that have exposed students to automotive modeling, color selection and engineering concepts.

Drive ONE was responsible for the display cars for the launch of Axalta’s Automotive Color of the Year 2018 – StarLite, and recently painted a Tickle Me Pink hued pedal car for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s daughter. Drive One students presented the car to Earnhardt at the SEMA show in Las Vegas last year.

Axalta will supply the school with professional bodyshop equipment including Cromax EZ, spray guns, safety equipment, and more | Axalta photo

This latest collaboration sees Axalta become the Official Paint Partner of Drive ONE Detroit. In addition to the spray booth, Axalta’s Color Marketing Manager, Nancy Lockhart presented the school with a check and announced that Axalta will also be suppling the program with professional body shop equipment including spray guns, safety equipment, Cromax EZ and more.

“The passion for the automotive industry these students possess is inspiring,” noted Lockhart. “Axalta is proud to sponsor Drive ONE and support the next generation of automotive industry designers, engineers, welders, painters, and leaders. I can’t wait to see what these students do!”

“The on-going support Axalta has given Drive ONE is helping us reach and train a generation we call Shop Class 2.0,” said Paul Tregembo Jr., Drive ONE Director. “With the addition of the Axalta Paint Booth, Cromax EZ system and equipment, students will get hands-on with the most up to date refinish practices and skills.”

For more information about Axalta, head to their website.