International. PPG has announced its automotive color trend data, highlighting a rise in the popularity of eco-friendly cars around the world.
"While consumers often choose conservative colors for cars, such as white or black, green has historically been an incredibly popular color choice, especially in the '90s," said Jane Harrington, global manager of PPG, color style, OEM coatings for automobiles.
"Beginning in 1999, consumer preferences shifted to more neutral options, reducing the popularity of green each year. While green accounts for a small percentage of current overall color preferences for 2018, future trends in the automotive industry are reflecting the popularity of green in home décor and the colors of walls, furniture, consumer electronics and more."
While monochrome colors such as white, gray, silver, and black continue to dominate globally, about 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 standout applications in the Mercedes G-Class and the iconic Ford Mustang Bullitt.
"Through PPG's global color forecasting process, we noticed that complex neutrals and foliage-influenced greens continue to have a strong preference among consumers in various industries," Harrington said.
"We are looking for retreats that protect us from competing priorities and the digital society that is always around us. This is very evident in the architecture, as new buildings incorporate green walls and vertical gardens, and many skyscrapers include green rooftop spaces. Consumers crave the calm and simplicity found in nature, and these preferences are affecting their color choices."
Color forecasting comes to life through four color stories under the theme "We are." These colors represent trends for the automotive model of the years 2021 and later, and are presented to automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in 2018-2019.
With It: This collection of colors reflects a design aesthetic that is youthful in spirit, playful, artistic and energetic. With overtly diverse and expressive colors, the chromatic palette creates an abstract glamour and implies a contrast of strength and vulnerability.
With Class: Centered around a contemporary take on classic elegance and refinement in our high-tech world, this theme is composed of dark colors to express an exotic and sophisticated tone. The palette contains rich wood-inspired browns, warm sand beiges and saturated reds in jewel tones. Metal-inspired copper and gold accents, often seen in PPG wheel coating applications, balance the darker shades.
With Out: a theme that connects with a design aesthetic that emphasizes minimalism, a "less is more" approach, and a connection to the environment. This palette emphasizes simplicity and tranquility. Organic greens, mixed browns and soft tones inspired by stone work together to reproduce the natural world.
With Spirit: This design theme addresses the rise of spirituality infused in the search for community, mysticism, and the fascination of the cosmos. The palette is a mixture of intense tones, in earth tones, with muted blue and purple tones. Authentic metallic colors inspired by iron, gold and copper add an element of grounding.
