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The world's most popular car colour is... rather dull

Cape Town - Vehicle paint specialists Axalta has released its 2015 Automotive Colour Popularity Report, showing the most popular car colours in the world.

Despite automakers creating new and unique paintjobs with each model, the most popular car colour in 2015 is rather mundane - white cars make up 35% of the report.

The second most popular car colour is black (18%) followed by silver (13%), gray (10%) and red (7%). Blue and beige/brown are tied at 6%. The least popular colours are yellow (2%) and green (1%) and all other colors on 2%.

White cars most popular in Africa

Axalta said: "White has continued to increase in popularity, topping out this year as the number one colour globally. White overtook silver in 2011 as the most preferred vehicle color preference. Since then, white has continued to gain popularity on all vehicle types in most regions, while silver has continued to decline."

The report shows in Africa, 46% prefer white more than in other parts of the world.


What's your favourite car colour? Which colours do you think suit certain brands/cars (i.e Mercedes-Benz white, BMW blue etc)? Email us.

Axalta said: "Since 1953, white has been one of the top five colors during all but three years. Whites have evolved and today they are available in a rich variety of alternatives from stone white solids and vanilla shades, to cool bright whites and pearlescent whites."

World car colours



World car colours
 • At a remarkable 35%, white is the leading colour as most popular, marking the fifth consecutive year.
 • Silver leveled out after declining for four years and remains at 13%.
 • Blue remained steady over 2014, while other rich colors fell off.

North America

 • Since 2007, white has been the top color in this region, totaling 27% in 2015, a gain of 2%.
 • Blue increased in popularity to a total of 8% of sales due to increased use of the colour on compact/sport  and intermediate/crossover utility vehicles (CUVs).
• At 11%, no region likes red more; but South America comes in a close second at 10%.
• Axalta’s 2015 North American Automotive Colour of the Year, Radiant Red, reflected the preference of red among consumers in the region.

South America

 • At 37%, white is the region’s most popular colour.
 • Silver is the second-most popular at 23%.
 • Red jumped 8% over 2014 levels.

Europe

 • The overall colour rankings remained the same compared to 2014. Small changes are evident, as white pearl increased by 2% points and gray fell by one.
 • Blue comes in at 9% with much interest in mid-shade blues.
 • Holding 21% of the market, no region likes black more.

Russia

 • Green dropped by 4% compared to 2014, one of the biggest declines.
 • White jumped by 6% to 29%.
 • Black gained 7%, more than any other colour in Russia.

Asia

 • The region experienced a 10% year-over-year drop in gray vehicles.
 • Up 11% from 2014, white is the most popular color across the region at 41%.
 • In China alone, white gained in popularity by 19%.
 • The region showed a 3% increase in beige/brown.
Africa
 • White cars lead at almost half of all vehicles sold at 46%.
 • Green could not do any worse with 0% of sales.
 • Black and beige/brown remained unchanged from 2014.

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