Latest data from OE paint supplier PPG shows that consumers still consider vehicle colour key when buying a new car, but most remain conservative in their colour choice.

PPG Industries is the world’s leading coatings company, and its annual automotive colour popularity data provides a good indicator of latest car colour trends. The latest research conducted by the company found that nearly 60% of consumers identified colour as a major factor in their vehicle buying decisions. However, car makers continue to sell the vast majority of cars (nearly 75%) in conservative colours such as white, black, grey and silver.

Globally white remains the most popular colour at 35% followed by black at 17% and silver at 12%.    Metallic colours are more popular among men, while women show a preference for solid, single-colour non-metallic-looking gloss finishes and pearlescent or coloured sparkle effects.

More than 50% of buyers said they would wait for their first colour preference rather than chose an available colour when buying a new car.

Jane E. Harrington, PPG manager, colour styling, automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coatings commented, “Our research indicates that global car manufacturers have good reason to give their brands and models a unique appearance using colour and effects. Colour and styling choices by OEMs must be responsive to these differences among potential buyers. They need to consider everyone from technology-focused millennials to family-focused baby boomers, monitoring sales data and style trends to try to predict two or three years in advance of a model year what colours and effects they will offer.” She added, “‘With a full spectrum of colours that can range in appearance from bright sparkle to silky pearlescence, carmakers today have an endless variety of options. Because we know selecting the right look for a specific brand is very important to each automotive company, PPG helps our customers develop distinctive colours to enhance their future vehicles.”

PPG says that next year’s colour trends will be toward more shades of blue and orange. Looking further ahead in response to continued demand for colour innovation in automotive coatings, PPG has introduced 64 exterior shades to manufacturers for consideration in styling 2018-2019 model year vehicles.