SYSTEM AND METHODS TO PROGRAM ACTIVE VEHICLE PAINT SURFACES

System and methods are described for changing the exterior color of a vehicle with an exterior surface comprising a plurality of electronically programmable color cells. The systems and methods describe receiving a request to begin color programming mode on the vehicle and in response to determining that a state of the vehicle permits the color programming mode, activating a depth-sensing device configured to monitor for and detect a user action associated with the exterior surface. The systems and methods further describe receiving, at a user device communicatively coupled to the vehicle and to the depth-sensing device, a color selection; identifying, by the depth-sensing device, the location of an interaction point between the user action and the exterior surface determining, based on data captured by the depth-sensing device, an electronically programmable color cell that is located at the identified interaction point; and transmitting to the vehicle an instruction to change the color of the determined electronically programmable color cell to the selected color.