White continues to be the leading car color choice globally according to research by paint supplier BASF. The study says over 50 percent of non-commercial vehicles produced in 2022 wore achromatic paint colors, including white, black, gray, and silver, though white continued to top the charts.
These findings confirm the trend already reported by iSeeCars at the start of October 2022. White cars already accounted for 26 percent of 6.1 million passenger cars sold in the United States during the first nine months of 2022. Grayscale or achromatic car colors, including white, comprised 78.5 percent of the vehicles sold to American car buyers during the year’s first, second, and third quarter.
The popularity of various shades of white for non-commercial automobiles is a long-term trend. PPG’s global car color popularity study showed 35 percent of vehicles produced in 2021 sported a white hue. 2021 was the 12th consecutive year with white paint topping the charts, making 2022 the 13th year in a row with this color predominating.
Researchers compiling data for these studies assert white’s popularity as a car color results from its resale value and ease of maintenance as well as its crisp, clean look.
For 88 percent of vehicle buyers, color is a key influence on the purchasing decision, according to research by Axalta, an American paint and coating manufacturer. Buyer preferences for finishes such as high gloss, satin, or matte also had strong influence, but varied much more from country to country.
In spite of white’s unshakeable popularity as a passenger car color, chromatic colors appear to be gaining market share. Red and blue continue to be the most popular non-grayscale tints in North America, BASF notes, but violet, green, yellow, and beige are catching up.
BASF’s 2022-2023 automotive color trends study shows a broader car color palette gaining popularity, Buyers in the European, Middle Eastern, and African markets are choosing highly chromatic colors for cars, while Asia-Pacific region buyers want “happy, spicy” tints.
Yet more studies reveal additional interesting facts about car color that could signal changing paint preferences in the future. Yellow cars depreciate less in value than any other colors as per iSeeCars, losing only 4.5 percent of value over three years compared to 15 percent on average and 15.5 percent for white cars. The next color with lower than average depreciation is orange at 10.7 percent.
Additionally, the 2023 Global Automotive Color of the Year is Techno Blue according to Axalta. Blue hues are typically in the top four paint choices worldwide. However, The General doesn’t currently offer any car colors similar to Axalta’s Techno Blue anywhere in its entire lineup of brands.
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Comments
Probably because it’s one of the few colors that doesn’t have an upcharge.
True and also the fact for over two years anything that did get built was either white or black.
White is the last color I would have
Look for any model W/T in inventory and will most likely be white and next would be black. Is that the Factory or Dealer making color choice?
Neither one. The customer ultimately makes that decision for the dealer because that is what the vast majority want.
They say silver is one of the most popular colors, But Chevrolet quit making the silver in the Silverado! Silver was one of my favorite colors on the truck.
S10s had a popular silver shade called, Platinum. Very nice as far as silver goes.
You are correct, with the 2024 Silverado HD, Silver Ice has been officially eliminated…..
If the only colors offered are white, black or shades of grey, is it any wonder what is most popular? Why does the General only have black interiors in some cars?
I totally agree, the lack of color palettes for General Motors Cars is poor. I for one certainly would not buy a White or Black car or truck. The industry talks about safety, well then put a Bright RED, BLUE, GREEN or YELLOW vehicle in the mix and it will certainly be seen before any Black or White vehicle.
That’s Safety
With the current state of inventories, dealers order what sells. They don’t have an extra unit to gamble on something different.
What choice does the consumer have when they go to the lot? Whenever I drive by the Chevy dealer, you can have any color you want, as long as it’s white, grey or silver. So unless someone special orders their truck that’s usually all they can choose from.
I would rather see color popularity of non-commercial vehicles that are special ordered by the end-user.
I think that would paint (pun intended) a more accurate picture of real color popularity.
Even at that, they don’t offer colors to choose from.
I think “m” is asking for the popularity of all colors just for retail sales. This would take out the White Commerical/Fleet sales, which is 99% white.
I’ve had 19 new Cadillacs. 14 of them have been white or a variation of white. My two current Cadillacs are Crystal White Metallic and both have Maple sugar Interior. I wish Cadillac offered a rich dark red interior like the one in my 1991 Seville. That car was stunning in white with Burgundy Leather Interior.
These are the only colors…I don’t get it.
At this point, I just want my new truck. Grey and darker beige are my favorites, because they don’t show the dirt as much. My present truck is steel green (more gray than green) , and I ordered a sterling metallic High Country with the 3.0 LZ0, max towing and tech packages with 4×4 on 12/6. GM accepted my build order the first part of January, but on 1/28 they decided to not build it. I’m not going to tow over about 7000 pounds, but I want the larger rear differential and heavy duty cooling. I don’t want a gas engine and I’d go with a 2500 diesel, but I can’t fit it into my garage- too long. Electric is out of the question, as I will be towing a lot. This really sucks! It’s pretty obvious GM doesn’t want to please or keep loyal customers,
Amazing CevyMike,
You seem to be having all the same issues I have been having. I have been trying to get a New GMC Sierra 1500 Denali since December 20, 2020… The order has gone from a 2021 to a 2022 and currently a 2023.
I also ordering the 1500 because the HD models will not fit in my garage.
I currently have an order in at a dealership and GMC says that they have accepted as of December 1, 2022.
However they have not given the dealership the allocation to send it for build.
I have ordered a 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD Crew Cab-Short Box Denali, Diesel LZ0.
At this rate, I will most likely be changing the order to a 2024 since they are have that rolling change over July 17th.
This is a poor way to treat a previous employee and loyal GM customer.
If I had any sense, I would roll over to another manufacture. But, I’m waiting…
Yeah, me too- I worked at a Chevrolet dealership in San Diego for 37 years, until my back went out on me, and bought a new Silverado every 1-2 years. I guess GM says “what have I done for them lately”.
Your order is currently sitting at Status 1100 – Order Placed At Dealership/Preliminary Order Accepted. When the dealer gets the allocation, they will move the order to Status 2000 – Order Accepted By GM. Then once it has a TPW ( Targeted Production Week), your dealer will know when it’s getting built.
Hey Cowboy Mafia 918,
Is your comment in reply to my statement?
What state are you currently living in?
My cousin matter of factly told me as a lad in a car conversation about cars and trucks ( he was the go to guy on subject as a Midwestern Barber ) “White looks newest the longest” !
Never thought about that! I think it’s true.
Yellow cars don’t depreciate less because they’re yellow. Talk about using statistics to make a false narrative. No doubt they depreciate less, because yellow is only offered on sports cars that hold their value well. So that skews the statistics and makes yellow look like it has better resale than other colors.
Yellow is the only color I buy for myself. We Red for my wife.
Great colors, this world needs a little color!
White, Black, Silver exterior vehicle colors? How boring! GM: 👎😵
It says 50% of non commercial but now many people buy for their business under their own name and not a business/fleet account. Or how many dealers order white just incase the need to sell it to a fleet et of business.
never understood why non commercial vehicles the color white is so popular. White is boring. Get some color in your life people.
In other news the Biden admin has called for a meeting with the big three automakers to explain why they are producing more white vehicles than black and are considering mandatory crt indoctrination for all salesmen ( sales persons) and financial incentives if consumers will buy black vehicles instead of white.
IMHO white is popular because that’s what the manufacturers are shipping and there are few other nice colours. Gm especially – it white, black, red, dark gray. Lately though I notice a slightly better variety of colours creeping into the mix