FYI: The popularity of car colors is shifting dramatically towards grayscale shades, with vibrant hues becoming scarcer on today’s roads. A recent analysis by ISeeCars.com highlights these trends and their impact on various vehicle segments.
Grayscale Takes Over the Roads
An extensive study conducted by ISeeCars.com has revealed a stark shift in car color preferences over the past two decades. By analyzing over 20 million used cars from model years 2004 to 2023, the study found that grayscale colors—white, black, gray, and silver—now dominate the market.
Significant Increase in Grayscale Preference
The combined market share of grayscale colors has surged from 60% in 2004 to an overwhelming 78.5% today. Among these hues, gray has seen the most substantial growth, increasing its share by 9.7% over 20 years. White remains the top choice, capturing 24.8% of the market in 2023, reflecting a 101.8% increase since 2004. Meanwhile, black accounts for 21.6%, and silver has seen a sharp decline, dropping from 22.9% to 9.4%.
The Decline of Vibrant Car Colors
"Colorful" cars—those in shades of blue, red, gold, and brown—are becoming increasingly rare. According to Karl Brauer, executive analyst at ISeeCars, "Colorful cars appear to be an endangered species. Despite the wide variety of color options offered by automakers, there are far fewer non-grayscale cars on sale today. Their market share has halved over the past 20 years and may continue to dwindle."
Among the most significant declines in the "rainbow" spectrum are gold, purple, brown, beige, and yellow. For instance, brown saw a dramatic drop from 2.6% to a mere 0.1%, a glaring 94.4% decrease.
Vibrant Hues in Sports Cars
Interestingly, the sports car segment defies this grayscale trend. While gray has seen an 81% increase and white has tripled its market share in this category, the boost is nearly offset by a significant drop in silver (83%) and a modest decline in black (2.1%). Blue and orange, however, have gained some traction among sports car buyers who seem to prefer bolder, more expressive colors.
White: A Fleet Favorite
White’s increasing popularity can also be attributed to its frequent use in rental and commercial fleets. "This is likely why white, admired for its durability and low maintenance costs, has more than doubled its market share in the car segment," Brauer adds.
Market Share Comparison
| Color | 2023 Market Share | 2004 Market Share | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 24.8% | 12.3% | 101.8% |
| Gray | 22.7% | 13.0% | 73.9% |
| Black | 21.6% | 13.6% | 58.8% |
| Blue | 9.9% | 11.0% | -10.1% |
| Silver | 9.4% | 22.9% | -58.9% |
| Red | 8.2% | 11.2% | -26.4% |
| Green | 1.2% | 3.0% | -59.3% |
| Orange | 1.0% | 0.6% | 61.4% |
| Beige | 0.4% | 3.4% | -87.8% |
| Yellow | 0.3% | 1.0% | -70.3% |
| Purple | 0.2% | 0.9% | -78.9% |
| Brown | 0.1% | 2.6% | -94.4% |
| Gold | 0.1% | 4.4% | -98.5% |
Conclusion
The findings of the ISeeCars report provide a clear picture: the spectrum of car colors on today’s roads is significantly less vibrant than it once was. Grayscale colors overwhelmingly dominate, while the once-lively palette of car exteriors is fading away. For car enthusiasts, this shift marks a sobering trend towards a more monotonous roadscape.
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Lawrence Jacobs, Editor of Automotive.fyi
