PPG forecasts growth in green cars in 2018 and beyond

PPG announced its automotive color trends data, noting a rise in popularity for green cars globally.
 
“While consumers are often choosing conservative colors for automobiles, such as white or black, green has historically been an incredibly popular color choice, particularly in the ‘90s,” said 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. While green makes up a small percentage of the current overall color preferences for 2018, future trends in the automotive industry are reflecting the popularity of green in home décor and wall colors, furniture, consumer electronics and more.”
 
While monochromatic colors such as white, gray, silver and black continue to dominate globally, approximately two percent of SUVs in North America today are green. The color 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.
 
“Through PPG’s global color forecasting process, we noticed that complex neutrals and foliageinfluenced greens continue to have a strong preference among consumers across various industries,” said Harrington. “We are seeking retreats that shield us from competing priorities and the always-on digital society around us. This is very evident 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 are impacting their color choices.”
 
“We understand that today, car colors go beyond the body and can be represented in various areas – including the car’s interior, wheel coatings and more” said Jennifer Solcz, PPG global segment manager for wheels, industrial coatings. “Wheel coatings are becoming a focal point of individualization for car buyers, many of which are drawn toward metallics, such as bronze and rose gold, as well as vibrant multi-faceted colors and matte finishes.”
 
PPG’s unique position as a color leader in multiple markets enables the company to observe and translate emerging global color trends for customers applications, including consumer goods, automotive color, as well as residential, commercial and industrial design. The color forecast is brought to life through four color stories under the “We are” theme. These colors represent trends for the automotive model years 2021 and beyond, and are presented to automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in 2018-2019.
 
Because PPG’s paint colors are sold in more than 70 countries, developing color trends is a global, cross-cultural effort. Collaboration between PPG’s more than 20 color experts generates a fact-based approach to color trends and consumer preferences, resulting in a unified voice on color direction. The company’s color stylists around the world specialize in industries that include consumer electronics, architectural, automotive and aerospace. PPG experts study consumer mindsets, building material trends, wellness preferences and more to select a curated color forecast that resonates and is reflective of current consumer attitudes and spans cultures, regions and markets.
 
For more information on PPG’s automotive color trends, visit news.ppg.com/automotive-color-trends.