In 2024, the automotive industry's color palette is showing a remarkable shift as consumers increasingly move away from traditional favorites like white and silver. This development opens up space for vibrant colors, warm neutrals and a wider variety of colors that are becoming increasingly popular in the industry. This is according to the latest Color Report for Automotive OEM Coatings from BASF Coatings.
EMEA: Beige gains in popularity, while achromatic colors continue to grow
In the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa), the proportion of achromatic colors has risen from 72% in 2021 to almost 80% in 2024, underlining the appeal of neutral tones. White remains the most popular color, closely followed by grey. It is particularly striking that beige is gaining in popularity and almost doubling its market share.
"Beige and neutral colors convey a sense of calm and sophistication, reflecting a desire for stability in a fast-paced world," says Mark Gutjahr, global head of Automotive Color Design at BASF. "They allow consumers to express their individuality while ensuring timeless elegance in automotive design."
America: Grey proves to be one of the most versatile and captivating colors
Grey, with its wide range of tones, from cool metallics to warm, earthy shades, offers depth and sophistication that can be surprisingly vibrant. The color distribution this year shows a striking trend towards grays, which now account for almost 20% of the total market. Black has decreased by 2 percentage points compared to 2023, while the number of white cars has actually fallen by 5 percentage points.
At the same time, chromatic colors, especially yellow, are on the rise, with softer tones such as pastel and greige yellow leading the way. These shades are associated with themes such as human-AI harmony and sustainability, particularly in the design of electric vehicles. This underlines the trend towards harmonious and optimistic color palettes. "Earthy and pastel yellows embody the values of today - functionality, sustainability and coexistence with nature," says Chiharu Matsuhara, Head of Automotive Color Design for Asia Pacific.
BASF Coatings' Color Report for Automotive OEM Coatings provides an in-depth analysis of color distribution in the automotive industry, examining preferences at both a global and regional level. The distribution described in the report was calculated by BASF Coatings based on available information on global automotive production and passenger car painting. (OM-1/25)
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