necessarily your imagination. Paints and coatings manufacturer PPG has released its 2021 automotive popularity report, and with it, we get to see a breakdown of the most popular car colors around the world. Not only that, but PPG provided at least some information on which colors have grown in popularity and which have fallen.
While the overall results of the report may not surprise you — spoiler: white and black are still popular choices for car colors — some of the finer details might. In its report, PPG argues that two-tone color schemes are rising in popularity among the masses, though as a whole they still represent a small share of the overall market. While no single color surged or dropped dramatically in popularity year-over-year, there is one that’s made more gains in the hearts of drivers than all the rest, at least according to the company’s numbers
Two-tone color schemes are making a comeback
PPG
Interestingly enough, PPG leads its report by claiming that two-tone color schemes are making a comeback, though perhaps at the risk of overstating how popular they were last year. According to PPG, 2021 saw “increased demand for two-tone finishes, personalized colors and other emerging trends among car buyers.” Those other emerging trends would be things like tinted clearcoats, matte finishes, and special-order colors, according to Misty Yeomans, who serves as PPG’s automotive OEM color styling manager for the Americas.
Looking at the data, though, PPG says that two-tone and other colors or finishes only accounted for 1% of the market in 2021 model year cars, so while they may be emerging as preferred styles among drivers, they still have a long way to go before they can be considered popular. Still, PPG has some stake in suggesting two-tone color schemes are on the rise, as it points out in its announcement that it offers a “breakthrough application technology that produces crisp paint edges without the use of masking and other time-intensive steps.”
