The Covid-19 pandemic meant some vehicles were rarely used during 2020, with cars locked away in garages, boats anchored in harbours and planes parked on runways or in hangers.
 
However, this disruption did not stop innovation within the vehicle wrapping market, with a whole host of creative applications catching our attention over the past 12 months.
 
FESPA.com takes a look at the best vehicle wrapping and graphics applications from the 2020…
 
Revving up for the future with Canoo

Caption: Image courtesy of Canoo
 
Designer: James Goldcrown / Canoo
Description: Breakthrough electric vehicles developer Canoo collaborated with mural artist James Goldcrown, popularly known as JGoldcrown, to launch its new Canoo Canvas Series.
 
Celebrating female racing drivers

Caption: Image courtesy of MediaCo
 
Designer: MediaCo / Cain Caser
Description: Large-format print business MediaCo produced this wrap for VR Motorsport in a campaign celebrating female racing drivers. Printed using a HP Latex 3600, the wrap is based on a 2D piece by artist Cain Caser, transformed into a 3D wrap by MediaCo.

Going mobile with Covd-19 vaccinations
 
 Caption: Image courtesy of Signs Express Swansea

Designer: Signs Express Swansea / Neath Port Talbot County Council
Description: To support the UK’s roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines, the Signs Express Swansea branch helped transform a mobile library vehicle into a mobile vaccination unit with this colour wrap, completed in partnership with Neath Port Talbot County Council in Wales.

Epson hops on board with Mobile Milk

Caption: Image courtesy of Epson
 
Designer: Epson / Longdean School / Human Milk Foundation
Description: Epson worked with Longdean School in the UK to design and wrap the Human Milk Foundation’s ‘Mobile Milk’ urgent delivery vehicle. The vehicle, the first of its kind in the UK, is being used to deliver milk to people in need. Graphics were printed on an Epson SureColor SC-S80600.

Thanking our key workers
Caption: Image courtesy of Govia Thameslink Railway
 
Designer: Govia Thameslink Railway
Description: Govia Thameslink Railway re-branded three of its trains, paying tribute to NHS staff for their work during the Covid-19 crisis. One train was rebranded for each of its Thameslink, Great Northern and Southern services, with the wraps applied in partnership with Aura Brand Solutions.

Vermeulen & Vermeulen scoops FESPA Gold
Caption: Image courtesy of Vermeulen & Vermeulen Reclame
 
Designer: Vermeulen & Vermeulen Reclame
Description: Vermeulen & Vermeulen Reclame from the Netherlands won a FESPA Gold Award in 2020 for this wrap for the Streatgasm 2000 Rally. Inspired by a rollercoaster at the Toverland theme park, the wrap featured a 3D Pheonix on top of a printed base wrap, created using 3M films, printed using Roland wide-format printers and CAD cut on a Zund S3.

Racing ahead with Richard Childress Racing
Caption: Image courtesy of Roland DG 
 
Designer: Richard Childress Racing
Description: Roland DG partnered with NASCAR team Richard Childress Racing to produce vehicle graphics for races in line with strict Covid-19 rules. The new restrictions placed extra pressure on teams, but working with Roland DG meant the vehicles were ready in good time before each race. Graphics were printed on Roland DG devices, including a SOLJET XF-640 printer.
 
Sara Katila wins FESPA World Wrap Masters Finland 2020
Caption: Image courtesy of FESPA
 
Designer: Sara Katila
Description: Sara Katila, the only woman competing in the FESPA World Wrap Masters Finland 2020, saw off competition to win the regional event last year. Pictured here applying the winning wrap, Sara has been wrapping cars for five years.
 
Avanti West Coast on the right track with Pride train wrap
Caption: Image courtesy of Avanti West Coast
 
Designer: Avanti West Coast
Description: Train operator Avanti West Coast wrapped one of its trains in a rainbow wrap to mark Pride 2020, an annual event that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to rainbow colours, the wrap featured black, brown, light blue, pink and white to also include people of colour, transgender people and those living with or who have been lost to HIV/AIDS.

American Airlines stands up to cancer
Caption: Image courtesy of American Airlines
 
Designer: American Airlines / Stand Up To Cancer
Description: American Airlines linked up with the Stand Up To Cancer charity to wrap one of its planes with a special design, featuring the names of 22,627 people who have survived cancer. People could submit names to appear on the design for $25 each, with the initiative raising $825,000 for the charity.
 
Striking wrap marks new Avery Dennison launch
Caption: Image courtesy of Avery Dennison
 
Designer: Avery Dennison
Description: Avery Dennison marked the launch of its MPI1105 Speedmaster film by wrapping this Audi with a striking and colourful design. The new film is printable across all major digital printing platforms.

Roaring ahead with Poperzy
Caption: Image courtesy of Poperzy
 
Designer: Poperzy
Description: Polish company Poperzy wrapped this VW Polo to showcase the abilities of SLX+, a new print media film from Arlon Graphics. SLX features FLITE Technology to support multi-surface adhesion, which Arlon said allows for fast and easy installs.
 
Back to nature for Pagets Produce
Caption: Image courtesy of Signs Express Bath
 
Designer: Signs Express Bath / Pagets Produce
Description: While many vehicles were off the road for large parts of 2020 due to lockdowns, one mode of transport that was as busy as ever was lorries. Here, the Signs Express Bath branch wrapped a lorry for Pagets Produce with a nature-inspired theme, designed to reflect its commitment to natural products.

United Breast Cancer Foundation claims first place

Caption: Image courtesy of United Breast Cancer Foundation
 
Designer: Dale Pettry of DMP Designs
Description: United Breast Cancer Foundation (UBCF) linked up with Nascar team Rick Ware Racing and driver JJ Yeley for this special wrap. The design was based around #DriveOutBreastCancer, a campaign focused on raising awareness for breast cancer.

First Great Western celebrates Pride
Caption: Image courtesy of First Great Western
 
Designer: First Great Western
Description: UK train operator First Great Western also decorated its trains to mark Pride 2020. Two of its trains were decorated with the iconic rainbow as part of the celebrations.
 
Spreading a greener message
Caption: Image courtesy of National Biodiesel Board

Designer: Various
Description: In the US, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) provided funding to eight biodiesel users across the country to share their biodiesel success stories with wraps, decals and other vehicle branding efforts. Applications included large bus wraps to showcase the power of biodiesel. 

Smiles all round for Lots of Tots
Caption: Image courtesy of Signs Express Swansea
 
Designer: Signs Express Swansea / Lots of Tots
Description: Signs Express Swansea features again in our Top 20 in recognition of this child-friendly wrap for local childcare company Lots of Tots Childcare. In what was a tough year for everyone, Lots of Tots was keen to spread some cheer, with the happy, smiling faces on the wrap doing just that!
 
Sÿnia honoured at FESPA Awards

Caption:  Image courtesy of Sÿnia

Designer: Sÿnia
Description: Sÿnia in France won a FESPA Bronze Award for this printed wrap. Printed on Hexis vinyl using an Epson S80600 printer, the splash features were CAD cut on Summa plotter, before Sÿnia applied 3D doming, using smart line resin deposition technique, helping create a three dimensional embossed effect.
 
A salute to US veterans

Caption: Image courtesy of Montana Rail Link
 
Designer: Montana Rail Link
Description: In the US, the Montana Rail Link wrapped one of its locomotives in a special wrap, thanking veterans for their service. A similar wrap was also applied to another one of its train, paying tribute to the work done by key workers during the Covid-19 crisis.
 
Paying tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore

Caption: Image courtesy of First Great Western
 
Designer: First Great Western
Description: Ending our Top 20 with a tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore, who passed away earlier this year. Captain Tom raised over £30m for NHS charities during the pandemic in 2020, and First Great Western celebrated his amazing achievements by naming one of its trains after him. The iconic image of Captain Tom giving the thumbs up was the centrepiece of the decorations.