Toronto, Ontario — Axalta made a splash on Tuesday with the announcement of its 2020 Global Automotive Color of the Year, ‘sea glass.’
Axalta’s 2019 Global Automotive Colour Popularity Report reported that blue vehicles comprise seven percent of the global automotive market—fifth overall, following white, black, gray and silver.
Regions with the highest level of blue vehicles are North America and Europe at 10 percent.
According to the company, the modern turquoise blue sets the trend as a fresh new colour for all vehicle types. Inspired by nature’s waterways and oceans, the sea glass colour has depth and intense colour as it glitters in the sunlight, making it a tone Axalta says consumers want and that will be noticed by motorists around the world.
“The trend toward turquoise and blues is growing,” said Nancy Lockhart, Axalta global product manager for colour. “Sea glass was designed for all vehicle types, from compact and sports vehicles to medium sedans and large SUVs and trucks.”
“Formulations for this versatile colour are available in our global waterborne technologies, and we are ready for customers who are actively looking for the next trend colour,” said Dan Benton, marketing manager for Axalta’s colour department.
“Sea glass reminds us of freshwater and ecology and aligns nicely with our corporate social responsibility platform of environmental stewardship,” Lockhart said. “Axalta employees are inspired and motivated to help keep our waterways clean, lower energy and decrease water usage at our facilities around the globe.”
In conjunction with the release of the 2020 automotive colour of the year, Axalta aims to help to remove more than 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilos) of waste from waterways through its Bright Futures program.
Through the program, Axalta has helped to conserve more than 13,000 acres (5,260 hectares) of wetlands through its partnership with Ducks Unlimited in North America and Ducks Unlimited de Mexico; planted more than 30,000 trees in Inner Mongolia and Hebei Province with the China Mother River Protection Program in partnership with the China Youth Development Foundation; partnered with the S.M. Sehgal Foundation in India to construct three ponds totalling 30-million-litre capacity in a drought-ridden village and participated in several other conservation and environmental stewardship programs around the world.
