Axalta reports white as most popular automotive colour of 2017

Axalta’s 65th annual Global Automotive Color Popularity Report has highlighted white as the worldwide leader in consumer vehicle colour choice in 2017.

This is followed by black in second place at 16%, and grey and silver tied in third place for the second consecutive year at 11%.

Axalta’s 2017 Color Popularity report also found:

• Worldwide: Building on white’s number one position, a trend has developed for pearl sparkling colours on luxury vehicles. White pearl hues increased 4% in 2017.
• Africa: Up three percentage points, grey enters double digits at 11%.
• Asia: White dominates and is the choice on 52% of vehicles sold in the region. China has the highest usage of white anywhere at 62%. Japan uses more pearlescent white hues at 28%.
• Europe: At 20%, grey is more popular in Europe than in any other region.
• North America: Blue is gaining popularity, especially in the compact/sport segment where it rose six percentage points to total 16%.
• Russia: The top colour, white, increased from 28 to 32%, while silver is also up three percentage points.
• South America: Grey is the rising star in South America moving from 8% to 11%.

"With its modern appeal, white continues to be the top seller worldwide,” said Nancy Lockhart, Axalta Global Color Marketing Manager.

"Pearlescent whites gained 4% in popularity this year as this multi-coat colour is used on all segments and has the highest usage in Japan.

"Overall, light and bright colours continue to gain strength as light grey and light to medium shades of blue have increased interest in the market."

Published annually since 1953, Axalta’s report is the automotive industry’s longest running and most comprehensive colour account.

It is compiled and designed by Axalta’s colour experts around the globe to provide OEMs fascinating and relevant insights into consumer preferences to help them make informed colour decisions.

"Automotive color evolves over time,” says Elke Dirks, Axalta Automotive OEM Color Designer, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

"Recently, blue has been trending in various versions from highly chromatic shades to light metallic colours, and grey has been on the rise as the next competing neutral.”

"White is the undisputed number one, but the story does not end there,” said Annie You, Axalta OEM Color Designer, China.

"Our customers value the subtle trends the report unveils.

"For instance, buyers in India prefer silver more than any other region at an amazing 30%.

"Overall, more white vehicles are produced in China than any other region, of which 47% are solid white, and 15% pearl white.”

"Axalta’s annual colour initiatives, which include this Popularity Report, our annual Color Collection and the Automotive Color of the Year are beneficial to car manufacturers who are interested in using these insights to innovate,” said Lockhart.

"In addition, Axalta has more than 150 years of expertise with an international team of designers and scientists that are solely focused on the fusion of technology and design.”