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Survey: World's most popular car colors

The heated battle between white and silver continues.

By Claire_Martin Oct 11, 2012 5:15AM
Chevrolet Corvette photo by ChevroletIf Prince was penning his ode to America's muscle-car icon today, the title could very well be "Little White Corvette." An annual survey released by PPG Industries shows that red comprises just 9 percent of car purchases worldwide, while white snags 22 percent. Muted tones, generally, are the most popular, with silver, black and gray falling in line behind white.

The color wars reveal regional preferences: White is the No. 1 color everywhere, but silver and white are equally beloved in the Asia-Pacific region. Europeans aren't as enamored of silver (13 percent buy in that hue), and they purchase red, gold/tan and blue with equal fervor (7 percent). In North America, black is the second most popular, with silver and gray tied for third. 

Even though buyers gravitate toward white, 45 percent would prefer a broader range of colors to choose from, according to The Detroit Free Press. 

They'll soon get their way: As we reported in July, earth tones are beginning to make a resurgence. They're expected to start muscling out silver, black and white, which currently make up 50 percent to 80 percent of car colors.

And PPG recently announced that it will begin adding a bit of flair to its palette for 2015-16 car models, infusing green into a metallic paint to create a hue it's calling Al Fresco; mixing silver and magenta to make so-called Elixir; and blending iridescent gold and gray for Victoria Gray. 
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3Comments
DSTPMN
Oct 15, 2012 3:47AM
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I looked at Honda Accords.  The ones I could afford were only offered in Grey or Silver.  BORING!   I checked other manufacturers, they only added a white, a black, and sometimes a red, for their base models.  They reason they are so popular is that is all they companies are willing to sell.
Blue2010SRT
Oct 11, 2012 11:32AM
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Blue for me, obviously :)
Specifically Deep Water Blue...

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