WATERBORNE COATINGS ARE A POPULAR CHOICE FOR AUTOMOTIVE TOPCOATS BECAUSE THEY OFFER REDUCED VOC IMPROVED APPEARANCE. THESE MATERIALS HAVE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES WHEN COMPARED WITH THE HIGH SOLIDS SOLVENT BORNE COATINGS THEY REPLACE. THIS PAPER ADDRESSES SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES WITH WATERBORNE COATINGS INCLUDING: CORROSION, AGGLOMERATION, VISCOSITY, SHEAR DEGRADATION, AERATION, SKINNING, FLUID VELOCITY AND ELECTROSTATICS.