Toronto, Ontario — Whether speeding down a North American highway, the Autobahn in Europe or Asia’s highway network, chances are one will see more white cars than any other colour on the road. According to BASF, however, the popularity of white decreased last year, from 41 percent in 2018 to 39 percent in 2019.
Although white is still the most popular automotive shade worldwide, BASF recognized some remarkable differences in regional distribution. In the Asia Pacific, almost every second car painted sports the hue. In North America and the European, Middle East and African regions, only every third car is coated in this colour.
Further, BASF says the North American market is shifting away from warmer whites—those with yellow undertones—to cooler combinations with bluish undertones and white pearlescent effects, especially on luxury and electric vehicles.
The achromatic colours—white, black, silver and gray—still dominate the market, accounting for 78 percent of vehicles. Nevertheless, BASF observed small shifts in this colour block; black and gray shades remained relatively stable in terms of 2019 popularity, and silver even gained some ground.
But the world isn’t just black and white—the other 22 percent of the world’s new vehicles were sprayed with chromatic colours in 2019. About nine percent of the vehicles produced globally were blue, and seven percent rocked red tones.
Beyond blue and red, brown and beige are starting to emerge as coatings contenders in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
BASF also found that subcompacts and other smaller vehicles are more likely to have a blast of colour.
For BASF’s full 2019 Colour Report, click here.
