Any colour, as long it’s silver, seems to be the choice of car customers around the world. But green, it appears, is a no-no.
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For the 10th consecutive year, silver has ranked as the most popular vehicle colour in the world, according to paint manufacturer PPG Industries. In fact, silver’s popularity is at its highest since 1990 when the data was first recorded.
In North America, the silver, grey and charcoal category saw a dramatic rise in popularity to 31% this year. It accounted for 25% in 2009 and 20% in 2008.
Black and white tied for second on 18% with red third (11%). Blue was fourth, (10%) while naturals, like brown, tan, gold, orange and yellow, accounted for 8% and green was last with 4%.
PPG said just 16 years ago green was the most popular colour on vehicles in North America (21%) while silver accounted for only 8% in 1994.
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By GlobalDataIn Europe, silver and charcoal (32%) were followed by black (24%), white (20%), blue (10%), red (9%), naturals (5%) and green (1%). Other ‘niche’ colours accounted for the final 1%.
In the Asia Pacific region, silver and charcoal led with 33% followed by white (21%), black (19%), red (10%), blue (8%), naturals (6%), niche colours (4%) and green (2%).
Jane Harrington, PPG’s manager of colour styling and automotive coatings, said: “Colour is an important component of how today’s carmakers can define and differentiate a vehicle or brand in the marketplace.
“The palette of colors being developed for the automotive market is clearly being influenced by culture, nature, fashion, movies, media, electronics and many consumer products.”
At this year’s annual Automotive Color Trend Show held at PPG’s Michigan office, the coatings company introduced carmakers to some new colours such as denim, described as “a classic true blue with a high effect sparkle”; cognac, “a rich coppery warm brown with an iridescent highlight”; silky silver, “a liquid silver look with a slight bronze cast”; moonshine blue, “a pale silvery blue like the reflection of the moon on a lake”; and wicked, “a sinister green colour inspired by couture fashion”.
