The present invention relates to an aqueous coating composition comprising at least one binder (A) comprising at least one polymeric resin (A1), at least one pigment (B), and an aqueous dispersion of at least one thickener (C), where (C) is obtainable by a method comprising at least the steps (1), (2), (3), and (4), namely preparing a dispersion or solution of at least one polyurethane as a polymeric resin (C2) in at least one organic solvent (step (1)), preparing a mixture of the dispersion or solution obtained by step (1) and of a melt or solution of at least one polyamide as at least one polymeric resin (C1) having an acid number in a range from 1 to 200 mg of KOH per g of (C1) (step (2)), adding water to the mixture obtained by step (2) (step (3)), and removing the organic solvent from the mixture obtained by step (3), to give the aqueous dispersion of (C) (step (4)), to the use thereof for at least partly coating an optionally coated substrate with a basecoat film, to a coating method of this kind, and to a substrate coated accordingly.