Oct. 10, 2011—PPG Industries recently announced that 21 percent of 2011 model-year cars around the world are white-colored, making white the most popular vehicle color globally.
In North America, 20 percent of vehicles are white, according to PPG’s data. The following colors round out the top eight most popular vehicle colors in North America:
• Silver: 19 percent
• Black: 18 percent
• Gray: 15 percent
• Red: 9 percent
• Blue: 9 percent
• Naturals (brown, tan, gold, orange and yellow): 7 percent
• Green: 2 percent
PPG recently presented ideas for future vehicle colors at the annual Automotive Color Trend Show. PPG presented 70 new exterior shades for manufacturers to consider in the designs of 2014-2015 model-year vehicles.
New colors presented by PPG included Goldeluxe, silver with an influence of gold; White Nougat, creamy white with a highlight sparkle; Muddy Waters, brown with a pearl luster effect; Grape Spritz, blue fused with a purple highlight; and Pot O’Gold, light green with a hint of gold.
“Color is one of the most basic means of human expression,” said Jane Harrington, manager of color styling and automotive coatings for PPG. “The palette of colors being developed for the automotive segment is being influenced by culture, nature, fashion, interior design, media, auto shows, color popularity and new pigment technology.”
PPG also recently completed a study of consumer opinions regarding the importance of coatings and color in relation to new car purchases. Key findings of the survey include:
• 48 percent of automotive consumers choose products based on color.
• 77 percent automotive consumers said exterior color was a factor in their automotive purchase decision.
• 31 percent of automotive consumers are willing to pay extra for a vehicle that expresses their personality through color.
• 40 percent of automotive consumers would prefer a wider range of color choices.
“Our consumer research has clearly shown that color is critically important to car buyers,” Harrington said. “It’s why we do what we do. But more importantly, it’s why PPG puts so much effort into researching, evaluating and understanding trends as they relate to color.”
For more information, visit ppg.com.
