Axalta Coating Systems a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings and the name behind the Cromax, Spies Hecker and Standox brands in Ireland, has announced its Automotive Colour of the Year 2017, Gallant Gray.

This luxurious colour is enhanced by blue and silver flakes that produce a unique sparkle effect and dark undertones that enrich the finish, adding sophistication. A year-long Colour of the Year celebration will commence with a variety of events during the 2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) Preview Days in Detroit, Michigan, including a video reveal at the EyesOn Design awards program on January 10, 2017. The colour will also be prominently featured at the Axalta-sponsored Charity Preview on January 13, 2017 that raises funds to support services for children.

Daily inspirations, coupled with extensive research, helped Axalta colour designers and product experts select Gallant Gray as the Automotive Colour of the Year. A high percentage of the market is interested in a neutral palette and adding slight hints of hues can add life to these colours. Gallant Gray is designed to look spectacular on any size vehicle. The complex colour is dark in value with various sparkling flakes that add depth and colour.

“At Axalta, we monitor automotive trends and forecast how colour tastes are changing in the automotive market,” said Nancy Lockhart, Axalta Global Color Marketing Manager. “We are pleased to partner with automakers by using our coatings to give their vehicles beauty and character, and we’re confident customers will appreciate Gallant Gray. With hints of blue and green, it exemplifies modernity and elegance. Taking everything into account, we think Gallant Gray is the new silver.”

Axalta’s recently released 2016 Global Automotive Colour Popularity Report, which documents vehicle colour trends by geography, showed a rise in the popularity of grey shades around the world. Neutral colours have dominated the market over the last ten years.  Although white and black maintained the top positions worldwide, grey is now tied with silver for third place at 11%. Grey leads silver in popularity in Europe (by 6%), North America (5%), and South Korea (7%). Grey is most popular in Europe (17 %), North America (16 %), South Korea (19 %), and India (12 %).