A process for the production of a dark-color multi-layer coating, comprising the successive steps: (1) applying an NIR-opaque coating layer A′ from a pigmented, solvent- or waterborne coating composition A to a substrate, (2) applying a coating layer B′ from a pigmented coating composition B onto the substrate provided with coating layer A′, wherein the pigment content of coating composition A consists 90 to 100 wt. % of at least one 10 to 80 nm thick aluminum flake pigment and 0 to 10 wt. % of at least one further pigment, which is selected in such a way that NIR-opaque coating layer A′ exhibits low NIR absorption, wherein the pigment content of coating composition B consists 50 to 100 wt. % of at least one black pigment with low NIR absorption and 0 to 50 wt. % of at least one further pigment, which is selected in such a way that coating layer B′ exhibits low NIR absorption and that the dark-color multi-layer coating exhibits a brightness L* (according to CIEL*a*b*, DIN 6174), measured at an illumination angle of 45 degrees to the perpendicular and an observation angle of 45 degrees to the specular, of at most 10 units, wherein the sum of the respective wt. % equals 100 wt. %, and wherein the coating layers A′ and B′ are cured.