Global Automotive
2020 Color Popularity ReportGlobal Automotive
2020 Color Popularity Report
For 10 Years Running, White Remains theTop Global Vehicle Color
Axalta’s 68th Global Automotive Color Popularity Report reveals the top three automotive
colors of 2020 to be White (38%), Black (19%), and Gray (15%). Gray increased 2% worldwide
and is at a 10-year high as it continues to strengthen to a total 15% of the market.
For a decade now, White has been the most popular automotive color around the world.
White vehicles have been holding at 38% for the past three years. Similarly, Black holds
steady year over year and remains a favorite in luxury and luxury SUV vehicles.
Meanwhile, there is movement in other color areas as Silver continues to drop, now in thesingle digits at 9%. Silver showed declines in major regions.
Gray increased 1% to a total of 25% and remains the top color in Europe for the second year ina row. The Compact/Sport category in particular followed this gray trend, showing an increaseby 5% to a full 29%. Black is more popular here than in any other region with 21% in total.
Although Red showed a 2% decrease in North America (7%), historically it is most popular inthis region. Blue, at 10% of the market, is trending on all types of vehicles, with the highest
usage on compact and sport vehicles.
Asia continues to see the highest number of White vehicles on the road at 48%. The second
region to trail is Africa with 46% popularity of White vehicles.
China’s overall most popular colors are White and Black, representing modern and luxurious
trends. Whites are shifting towards more pearlescent versions and Blacks are shifting towards
more solid versions. Gray increased 3% in China, in tune with global trends.

WORLD38%

27% Solid White
11% Pearl White

19%

5% Solid Black
14% Effect Black15%
Gray9%

Silver

7%

Blue

Japan’s color popularity showed both Blue and Red increased 1% this year. Increasing trends
in green-shade Blues and green-shade Yellows are on the future outlook.
South Korea shows popularity shifts in a 1% decrease in Red (6%) and a 2% increase in Blue(11%). Blue is higher here than in any other country.
India’s preference for lighter shades is evident with the most Silvervehicles of any country at 32% and the lowest number ofBlack vehicles at 2%.
South America found a 2% increase in Blue
vehicles, totaling 5%. Like other regions, Silver
dropped in popularity and gray increased.
Axalta celebrated its 2020 Global Automotive
Color of the Year, Sea Glass, around theworld. The green-shade blue was inspiredby nature’s waterways and oceans, andshimmers in the light. Based in science,research and consumer desire, Sea Glassinfuses a tranquil yet confident
style, with a premium look thatmeets the trends of today.

5%
Red

3%
Brown/
Beige
2%
Yellow/
Gold1%
Green

1%
OthersColor Popularity at a GlanceWorldEurope• There was a worldwide shift toward neutrals. Gray
increased in all regions, totaling 2% worldwide.

• Gray saw further growth of 1% and is now, for the second
time, Europe’s most popular color. At 25%, Europe has thehighest popularity worldwide. The Compact/Sport category
increased by 5% to a full 29%.

• Silver declined in all regions, falling 1% worldwide.
• Black and White held steady.
• Pearl White gained 2%, while Solid White decreased 2%,
totaling 38% to continue as the most popular color.

• Solid White gained 2%. This unexpected growth is due tothe Intermediate/MPV and Truck sector, where White isstill the favorite for fleet vehicles.

AsiaNorth America• Overall, White decreased 1%, with preferences shifting
away from solid whites.

• Gray vehicles total 19% in all of North America with thehighest use on Compact and Sport vehicles (21%).
Mexico totals 22% Gray vehicles.

• Yellow/Gold colors are most popular in Asia at 4% of vehicles.

China• Neutrals grew 3%. Gray increased 3% and now totals 6%of China’s vehicles. Black increased 1% with an increasing
shift towards more solid blacks. Silver decreased 1%.
• Warm shades such as Red and Beige/Brown decreased
3% in total.

India• Increase of Gray vehicles at 1% now totaling 13%.
• Silver is by far the most popular on vehicles in thiscountry at 32%.

Japan
• A 3% drop in Black colors included -2% solid black and-1% metallic black.
• Color is on the rise as Red and Blue vehicles
each increased 1%.

South Korea• With a 2% increase, Blue is now more popular in S. Korea
than any other country at 11%.

• Shifts from Solid White to Pearl White are found in allsegments. Black shifts from metallic version to more
solid versions overall.

Russia• With an increase of 2% each, White now reached 33%
and Gray 16%, shifting Russia’s color palette more tothe achromatic side.
• Despite a decrease of 1%, Beige/Brown is most popularin Russia at 11%.

Africa• With 16% in total, Gray increased another 2%.
• In the achromatic area, Black and Silver balance witha loss of 1% each.

South America• Color shifts show a 2% drop in Red and a 2% increasein Blue. Blue now totals 5%.
• Silver dropped 3% but is still strong at 20%.
Gray increased 1%, and now totals 15%.

• Silver decreased 4% — the largest drop of any country.

Color Popularity by Region
WhiteGrayBlack48%

25%21%
EuropeN. America

46% Africa
41% S. America

19% N. America
16% Russia, Africa

19% N. America
18% Asia

6% S. America
5% Europe, Russia

Asia

EuropeRed

7%

NorthAmerica

Global ColorPopularity
2020

SouthAmerica

30%

19%

19%

10%

10%

7%2%

1%

<1%2%White
14% Solid White
16% Pearl WhiteBlack
7% Solid Black
12% Effect BlackGraySliverBlue

RedBrown/Beige

GreenYellow/GoldOthers41%20%

15%

10%6%5%3%<1%<1%<1%White
36% Solid White
5% Pearl White

SilverGray

Black
8% Solid Black2% Effect Black

RedBlue

Brown/Beige

GreenYellow/Gold

Others25%25%

21%

10%

9%

5%2%

1%1%1%Gray

White
22% Solid White
3% Pearl WhiteBlack
4% Solid Black
17% Effect BlackBlue

SilverRed

Brown/Beige

GreenYellow/GoldOthers

33%

16%

13%

12%

11%

6%

5%2%

<1%2%White
32% Solid White
1% Pearl White

Gray

SilverBlack
4% Solid Black8% Effect Black

Brown/Beige

Blue

Red

Green

Yellow/Gold

Others

46%

16%

12%

11%

7%

3%2%1%<1%2%White
46% Solid White
0% Pearl White

Gray

Black
2% Solid Black
10% Effect Black

SliverBlue

RedBrown/Beige

Yellow/GoldGreenOthers

48%

18%8%8%

5%4%4%3%1%1%White
34% Solid White
14% Pearl WhiteBlack
3% Solid Black
15% Effect Black

Silver

GrayBlueRed

Yellow/Gold

Brown/Beige

Green

Others

35%

19%

11%

10%

7%5%5%

3%2%3%White
10% Solid White
25% Pearl WhiteBlack
2% Solid Black
17% Effect Black

Sliver

Blue

Red

Gray

Brown/Beige

GreenYellow/GoldOthers

57%

22%6%

5%

3%

3%2%2%<1%<1%White
46% Solid White
11% Pearl WhiteBlack
5% Solid Black
17% Effect Black

Gray

Yellow/Gold

SilverBlue

RedBrown/Beige

GreenOthers

33%

22%

17%

11%

6%6%2%

1%1%1%White
16% Solid White
17% Pearl White

Gray

Black
2% Solid Black
15% Effect BlackBlue

SilverRed

Brown/Beige

Yellow/GoldGreen

Others

33%

32%

13%

7%

6%

3%2%2%

1%1%White
24% Solid White
9% Pearl White

SilverGray

Brown/Beige

RedBlueBlack<1% Solid Black2% Effect Black

Yellow/GoldGreen

OthersWorld Color
38%White
27% Solid White
11% Pearl White

19%Black
5% Solid Black
14% Effect Black

EuropeRussia

Gray

15%Africa
Silver

9%AsiaBlue7%Red

5%JapanBrown/
Beige

3%

China
Yellow/
Gold2%SouthKorea

Green1%

IndiaOthers

1%

15%
15%
10%

21%

North America

18%
10%

Compact/Sport

4%

1%

Truck/SUV
28%

9%

2%

1% <1%

19%

17%

Europe

21%

2%

18%

10%

Compact/Sport8%2%

1% <1%

25%

24%

11%
29%

Intermediate/CUV
10%2%

1% <1% <1%

34%

7%

27%

7%
4%

9%

Luxury/Luxury SUV3%

1% <1%

4%

27%
2%

1%

1% <1%

1%

1% <1%

16%

Intermediate/MPV

8%

2%

31%

24%

24%

8%

11%

Truck/SUV

10%5%

1% <1% <1%23%

16%13%

9%
26%

7%

6%

16%

21%

10%
5%

Luxury/Luxury SUV
3%2%

1%

1% <1%38%

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axalta.com/color

China
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Annie You
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Europe, Middle East, Africa
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