The most common car colors on the roads in 2020 were white, black and gray, according to Axalta’s Global Automotive Color Popularity Report. The study is based on data from all countries where vehicles are manufactured for the consumer market. The report provides detailed production data so automakers can track trends and other progression patterns worldwide as well as in specific markets. "Consumer purchasing trends reflected in the study are driving our development of innovative colors for the future," said Nancy Lockhart, global product manager for color development at Axalta. White has remained constant at 38 % of the total global market for three years and has been the most frequently purchased car color around the world for ten years in succession. Black is maintaining its previous year’s level of 19 % and continues to be very popular for vehicles in the luxury segment. Gray increased by two percentage points worldwide and is at a 10-year high with a market share of 15 %. Silver continued to decline in all regions and now stands at 9 %. Overall, 81 % of vehicles produced in 2020 were painted in the neutral tones white, black, gray and silver.
Shift from silver to gray
In Europe, gray rose by 1 % to a total of 25 % and thus remains among the top colors for the second year in succession. The compact and sport segments in particular are following the gray trend, recording an increase of 5 % to 29 %. Black is more popular here than in any other region at 21 %. Although red saw a 2 % decline in North America (7 %), it is historically the most popular color in this region. Blue is trending across all vehicle types, with 10 % of the market, and is most common in compact and sports cars. Asia continues to have the most white vehicles on the road with 48 %. Africa follows in second place with 46 %. The most popular colors in China are white and black, which is a modern, luxury trend. White tends to be more often pearlescent and black more often solid.
The complete article was published in IST 02/2021.
Autor(en): Axalta Coating Systems
