Consumers continue to choose conservative colors for automobiles, such as white or black, and green has historically been an incredibly popular color choice, particularly in the ‘90s,”. But according to Jane Harrington, PPG global manager, color styling, automotive OEM coatings, “Beginning in 1999, consumer preferences shifted to more neutral options, shrinking green’s popularity each year. Green still makes up a small percentage of the current overall color preferences for 2018 and future trends in the automotive industry are reflecting the popularity of green in home décor and wall colors, furniture, consumer electronics and more.”
More conservative monochromatic colors such as white, gray, silver and black continue to dominate globally, approximately two percent of SUVs in North America today are green. Green continued to have a strong presence at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, with featured applications on the Mercedes G-Class and iconic Ford Mustang Bullitt.
Using its global color forecasting process, paint producer PPG has noticed that complex neutrals and foliage-influenced greens continue to have a strong preference among consumers across various industries. The color choice seems to indicate a trend which carries on in architecture as new buildings are incorporating green walls and vertical gardens, and many skyscrapers include roof top green spaces. Consumers crave the calm and simplicity that is found in nature, and these preferences influence their color choices.
Today, car colors go beyond the body and can be represented in various areas – including the car’s interior, wheel coatings and more. Wheel coatings are becoming a focal point of individualization for car buyers and many are drawn toward metallics, such as bronze and rose gold, as well as vibrant multi-faceted colors and matte finishes.
As with many things, a great deal goes into trying to predict what the next big thing in automotive color combinations will be. A lot depends on how people feel about things like the economy and the environment. It’s difficult to tell what may spark the next color craze and that color will be.