PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG), the world’s leading manufacturer of transportation coatings, today released its annual automotive colour trend data, which shows that white continues to be the most popular car colour globally based on 2013 automotive build data.
According to PPG’s global data, white ranked first (up 3 per cent from last year to 25 per cent) and silver and black tied for second (18 per cent each). These were followed by grey, red, natural hues, blue and green, all of which maintained the same share of popularity as in 2012.
In Europe, white ranks first (27 per cent, up 4 per cent from 2012), followed by black (19 per cent, down 2 per cent), grey (15 per cent, down 2 per cent), silver (13 per cent), blue, natural and red (tied three ways with 6 per cent each, each down 1 per cent), and green (4 per cent, up 1 per cent) and other colours (also 4 per cent for 2013 and up 1 per cent from 2012).
“While white continues to be the most dominant choice in car colour, we see growth in the variety of whites being offered to consumers,” said Jane E. Harrington, PPG manager, colour styling, automotive OEM (original equipment manufacturer) coatings. “Car manufacturers are seeking ways to create variations of white, silver, black and grey that are specific to their brands and that complement different vehicle types. Distinct effects such as micas, glass flakes, fine bright aluminium and hue-shifting pigments help them achieve this.”
In fact, across European vehicle types in 2013, PPG found that:
- Sport models are most likely to feature colours in the “other” category,
- The largest percentage of green vehicles is in the sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment,
- Luxury vehicles are most likely to feature black and grey finishes, and they are least likely to feature white, silver or green.
Looking ahead, Harrington said drivers may see more blue in 2014 models. PPG’s data has shown increases in the popularity of blue for certain regions and vehicle types, such as an increase in North America this year and more than double the popularity in sport models there between 2011 and 2013.
2016-2017 Automotive Colour Palettes
In response to the continued demand for colour innovation in automotive coatings, PPG has introduced more than 60 exterior shades to manufacturers for consideration in styling 2016-2017 model year vehicles. Titled “Colorography,” the collection includes five palettes:
- Hi-Breed emphasizes the new design harmony between man and nature with a palette consisting of neutrals, pastels and bright hues such as Lapis, a brilliant gemstone blue that uses ANDARO(R) tint dispersions by PPG.
- Mosaic is based on the wealth of artisan patterns, shapes and prints, as well as their strong colorations, and it includes colours such as Autumn, a vivid metallic orange with coloured aluminium flake that evokes an image of fall foliage.
- New Spirit reflects the primitive, natural colours of a desert sunset with shades such as Sunray, an intense yellow tri-coat colour with a high-sparkle glass flake.
- Magnifigance combines the words magnificent and elegance, and the palette recaptures elaborate styling details and opulent, regal colours for a post-recession world with colours such as Mystic Magenta, a vibrant purple with a unique hue-shift effect.
- Theorem is a precise and minimal contemporary palette that uses rich brown, red and deep blue as accents for balanced neutrals such as Crisp Grey, a graphite colour with a surprise highlight of green metallic.
PPG engages a network of 23 internal colour experts with a focus on automotive, architectural, aerospace and consumer products markets. These specialists analyse design trends, consumer preferences and priorities across regional, cultural and global markets to determine factors that will influence future colour choices. The new colours and palettes introduced this year for automotive manufacturers reflect developments across all these markets and influences.
PPG: BRINGING INNOVATION TO THE SURFACE.(TM)
PPG Industries´ vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and colour, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in nearly 70 countries around the world. Sales in 2012 were $15.2 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com and follow @PPGIndustries on Twitter.
Editor’s Note: Electronic images of PPG’s 2013 colour popularity charts, high-resolution photos of the Automotive Colour Trend Show, high-definition video of cars being painted with PPG products at a General Motors plant and additional information can be obtained at www.ppg.com/AutomotiveColorTrends.
Bringing innovation to the surface is a trademark and Andaro is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
