PPG 2020 automotive colour report shows continued shift
PPG has released its 2020 automotive colour popularity report, which shows blue hues continuing to increase in popularity, particularly in Europe.
Blue climbed to 9% of global colour share – a 1% increase from 2019. In Europe, blue occupies 11% of the market. Sales of blue luxury, mid-sized and small vehicles grew by 1% across the continent last year.
The trend reinforces PPG’s 2019 automotive colour forecast, which anticipated that sales of blue automobiles would increase over the next four years. PPG experts believe the global COVID-19 pandemic is likely to further fuel global preference for the colour.
“COVID-19 has consumers focusing on their desires and priorities,” said Misty Yeomans, a colour styling manager at PPG. “Blue is an optimistic, comforting colour that conveys trust, dependability, confidence, healing and hope. It’s also associated with nature, cleanliness and future-forward technology.”
As the movement toward blue continues, Yeomans expects the colour to emerge in more vivid or desaturated shades, deep-sea luxury tones and hues with a slight turquoise influence.
White remained the world’s most popular automobile colour
However, white remained the world’s most popular automobile colour, claiming 34% of the world market, although demand for white tones fell 1% from 2019. Demand for red remained flat at 8% of the global market.
Also holding steady at 18% compared to 2019, black retained its popularity as a core colour. Globally, a slight decrease in the popularity of silver was balanced by a corresponding increase in preferences for gray. Silver tones dropped from 15% of auto builds in 2019 to 12% in 2020. Grays rose from 10% to 12% during the same period.
