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Move Over, Silver: World’s Favorite Car Color

  • 2014 CLA 45 AMG Mercedes-Benz is presented at the New York International Auto Show. After more than a decade as the world’s favorite car color, silver is falling in popularity to white. PPG Industries, the leading supplier of automotive paints, says 25 percent of the vehicles it supplied in the 2013 model year were white, up 3 percent from the prior year.
    1/10

    Move Over, Silver: World’s Favorite Car Color

    2014 CLA 45 AMG Mercedes-Benz is presented at the New York International Auto Show. After more than a decade as the world’s favorite car color, silver is falling in popularity to white. PPG Industries, the leading supplier of automotive paints, says 25 percent of the vehicles it supplied in the 2013 model year were white, up 3 percent from the prior year.
    AP Photo
  • The 2014 Honda Odyssey is presented at the New York International Auto Show. Silver and black tied for second, with 18 percent each.
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    Move Over, Silver: World’s Favorite Car Color

    The 2014 Honda Odyssey is presented at the New York International Auto Show. Silver and black tied for second, with 18 percent each.
    AP Photo
  • Jaguar XJ L at the New York International Auto Show. White dominates in Europe, North America and Asia. Only in South America is silver still king.
    3/10

    Move Over, Silver: World’s Favorite Car Color

    Jaguar XJ L at the New York International Auto Show. White dominates in Europe, North America and Asia. Only in South America is silver still king.
    AP Photo
  • Jane Harrington, PPG's manager of automotive color styling shows off the company's color palette in Troy, Mich.
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    Move Over, Silver: World’s Favorite Car Color

    Jane Harrington, PPG's manager of automotive color styling shows off the company's color palette in Troy, Mich.
    AP Photo
  • The 2014 Scion tC is presented at the New York International Auto Show. But if you don’t relish a whiteout on the freeway, never fear. Automakers are currently scouting colors for the 2016 and 2017 model years, and Harrington is showing them some eye-popping options, from a pink-tinged bright red developed in Asia to a rich dark gray with faint green highlights.
    5/10

    Move Over, Silver: World’s Favorite Car Color

    The 2014 Scion tC is presented at the New York International Auto Show. But if you don’t relish a whiteout on the freeway, never fear. Automakers are currently scouting colors for the 2016 and 2017 model years, and Harrington is showing them some eye-popping options, from a pink-tinged bright red developed in Asia to a rich dark gray with faint green highlights.
    AP Photo
  • Eleven different browns — from light copper to dark chocolate — and an equal number of grays are part of PPG’s annual color show for automakers at its automotive center in the Detroit suburb of Troy.
    6/10

    Move Over, Silver: World’s Favorite Car Color

    Eleven different browns — from light copper to dark chocolate — and an equal number of grays are part of PPG’s annual color show for automakers at its automotive center in the Detroit suburb of Troy.
    AP Photo/Kia Motors America
  • Jane Harrington, PPG's manager of automotive color styling shows off the company's color palette in Troy, Mich.
    7/10

    Move Over, Silver: World’s Favorite Car Color

    Jane Harrington, PPG's manager of automotive color styling shows off the company's color palette in Troy, Mich.
    AP Photo
  • A worker dusts a Nissan Leaf. There are six yellows and seven greens, from seafoam to dark olive. One notable absence: powder blue, which is increasingly confined to electric cars or hybrids.
    8/10

    Move Over, Silver: World’s Favorite Car Color

    A worker dusts a Nissan Leaf. There are six yellows and seven greens, from seafoam to dark olive. One notable absence: powder blue, which is increasingly confined to electric cars or hybrids.
    AP Photo
  • The 2014 Kia Soul is unveiled during the 2013 New York International Auto Show. Car buyers could also see taxi-like yellows and other flat, bright colors, which are growing in popularity thanks to small, funky entries like the Kia Soul.
    9/10

    Move Over, Silver: World’s Favorite Car Color

    The 2014 Kia Soul is unveiled during the 2013 New York International Auto Show. Car buyers could also see taxi-like yellows and other flat, bright colors, which are growing in popularity thanks to small, funky entries like the Kia Soul.
    AP Photo
  • The Hyundai Veloster. Jane Harrington Harrington and her international team determine color trends by watching fashion, architectural paint colors and other predictors. She thinks we’ll see more deep jewel tones like teal and more earthy metallics, like reddish orange, in the coming years. With the end of the recession, drivers don’t mind being showy again, she says
    10/10

    Move Over, Silver: World’s Favorite Car Color

    The Hyundai Veloster. Jane Harrington Harrington and her international team determine color trends by watching fashion, architectural paint colors and other predictors. She thinks we’ll see more deep jewel tones like teal and more earthy metallics, like reddish orange, in the coming years. With the end of the recession, drivers don’t mind being showy again, she says
    AP Photo
2014 CLA 45 AMG Mercedes-Benz is presented at the New York International Auto Show. After more than a decade as the world’s favorite car color, silver is falling in popularity to white. PPG Industries, the leading supplier of automotive paints, says 25 percent of the vehicles it supplied in the 2013 model year were white, up 3 percent from the prior year.
The 2014 Honda Odyssey is presented at the New York International Auto Show. Silver and black tied for second, with 18 percent each.
Jaguar XJ L at the New York International Auto Show. White dominates in Europe, North America and Asia. Only in South America is silver still king.
Jane Harrington, PPG's manager of automotive color styling shows off the company's color palette in Troy, Mich.
The 2014 Scion tC is presented at the New York International Auto Show. But if you don’t relish a whiteout on the freeway, never fear. Automakers are currently scouting colors for the 2016 and 2017 model years, and Harrington is showing them some eye-popping options, from a pink-tinged bright red developed in Asia to a rich dark gray with faint green highlights.
Eleven different browns — from light copper to dark chocolate — and an equal number of grays are part of PPG’s annual color show for automakers at its automotive center in the Detroit suburb of Troy.
Jane Harrington, PPG's manager of automotive color styling shows off the company's color palette in Troy, Mich.
A worker dusts a Nissan Leaf. There are six yellows and seven greens, from seafoam to dark olive. One notable absence: powder blue, which is increasingly confined to electric cars or hybrids.
The 2014 Kia Soul is unveiled during the 2013 New York International Auto Show. Car buyers could also see taxi-like yellows and other flat, bright colors, which are growing in popularity thanks to small, funky entries like the Kia Soul.
The Hyundai Veloster. Jane Harrington Harrington and her international team determine color trends by watching fashion, architectural paint colors and other predictors. She thinks we’ll see more deep jewel tones like teal and more earthy metallics, like reddish orange, in the coming years. With the end of the recession, drivers don’t mind being showy again, she says


After more than a decade as the world's favorite car color, silver is falling in popularity to white. PPG Industries, the leading supplier of automotive paints, says 25 percent of the vehicles it supplied in the 2013 model year were white, up 3 percent from the prior year. Automakers are currently scouting colors for the 2016 and 2017 model years, and Harrington is showing them some eye-popping options, from a pink-tinged bright red developed in Asia to a rich dark gray with faint green highlights.


Reporting by the Associated Press.