Is your car color choice as exciting as a beige wall? For years, the automotive world has been dominated by a sea of white, gray, and black vehicles. But is this monochrome monotony finally starting to crack? Let's dive into the latest data from BASF's Color Report for Automotive OEM Coatings to find out. This report is the ultimate authority, providing a global and regional breakdown of car color popularity.
Globally, white remained the champion in 2025, claiming a significant 33% of the market share. Black followed at 23%, and gray secured 19%. While these numbers are still high, there's a subtle shift happening. Last year red, blue and gold each declined 1%, but the real news is that green saw a global increase of 1%.
But here's where it gets interesting: the Americas.
In the American market, white is still the leader, but its dominance is waning. In 2025, white held 28%, down from 29% the previous year and 34% in 2023. Gray also dipped, falling 4% to 16%. Black remained steady at 20%, while silver gained some ground at 13%. Red and blue held their own, with red at 7% and blue at 9%. Brown and violet each claimed 1% of the market.
And this is the part most people miss: Green is making a notable comeback in the Americas, doubling its popularity from *2%** in 2024 to 4% in 2025*! BASF's report highlights this trend, noting a growing preference for more expressive colors, with shades like green, beige, brown, and violet gaining momentum, reflecting a shift towards nature-inspired aesthetics.
"In 2021, brown and beige have been key colors of our trend collection. The sales now validate these early predictions and illustrate, how long-term trends continue to shape the market," said Mark Gutjahr, global head of Automotive Color Design at BASF Coatings.
What about other regions?
Monochromatic colors are particularly popular in the Asia Pacific region. In Europe, black and gray gained popularity, while silver and white declined. Blue and green also saw a slight increase in Europe. Yellow consistently appears in the report outside of the Americas, but it only ever accounts for 1% of the market.
Controversy & Comment Hooks: What do you think about the shift towards more colorful cars? Do you believe the automotive industry will ever fully embrace a wider range of hues? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
