DuPont 2008 Automotive Color Popularity Report

[Michael Stoops]

DuPont has released their 2008 auto paint color popularity report for various countries and there are some interesting results. White was most popular in North America but several other colors came very close. It's really interesting how many countries are big on black, white, silver and gray but don't go for flashier colors while other countries seem to love the bright colors almost equal to the basics.

You can see all the various charts HERE

[roushstage2]

Re: DuPont 2008 Automotive Color Popularity Report

White, Black, then Silver. IIRC, last year silver was number one.

Thanks Mike!

[Carfire]

Re: DuPont 2008 Automotive Color Popularity Report

Cool Find!!
Interesting Information!
Thanks!!

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: DuPont 2008 Automotive Color Popularity Report

Thanks for sharing. It reminds me of a conversation I had a couple of years ago. I was talking to a car salesmen. He was stating how white was very popular then also. I said to him, I wonder how popular white would be if you took out all the numbers for municipal vehicles. Either city. county or state. We came to the conclusion that is why white is so popular.

Very unscientific, but it probably has something to do with the numbers. Just typing and remembering out loud.

[ColonelCash]

Re: DuPont 2008 Automotive Color Popularity Report

Is it true that insurance rates are somehow affected by the color of car you drive? I remember when I was turning 16 a couple of people told me that a red car would have higher insurance than others. I never really bought that argument (after all red would be easier to see than black).

[sdprius858]

Re: DuPont 2008 Automotive Color Popularity Report

Hmm, interesting...my immediate family (household) has 3 white (1 pearl) and 1 beige. including my aunt in LA and her family, 3 more white cars(1 pearl) and 1 green

[Jeepster04]

Re: DuPont 2008 Automotive Color Popularity Report

Hmm, I was hoping blue would be lower.. I like being unique.

[Jokeman]

Re: DuPont 2008 Automotive Color Popularity Report

South Korea has it right......50% silver. Easy to maintain!

[Heatgain]

Re: DuPont 2008 Automotive Color Popularity Report

Ever since I moved south of the Mason-Dixon line back in the 80's, I have bought white cars because they reflect the heatgain (not me) of the sun. The darker colors absorb the heat making the inside of the car hotter.
That being said, my current vehicle, a Saturn Aura, is Techno Gray. Go figure.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: DuPont 2008 Automotive Color Popularity Report

There's a thread similar to this one where silver metallic paints are discussed because they don't show swirls to the human eye as easily as other colors, maybe someone can find it and link it to this thread.

[the other pc]

Re: DuPont 2008 Automotive Color Popularity Report

... I wonder how popular white would be if you took out all the numbers for municipal vehicles. Either city. county or state. We came to the conclusion that is why white is so popular.

Very unscientific, but it probably has something to do with the numbers. Just typing and remembering out loud.

Good point. The DuPont report doesn’t address that issue (At least, not the version they post for everybody to see, I’m sure they have a much more detailed version they keep to themselves). I agree that fleet vehicles probably skew the results heavily.

They used to at least show color popularity by market segment, which did show considerable variation. For some reason they decided to dumb it down this year.


the 2008 breakdown for North America:
Chart showing most popular colors in North America


the (much more detailed) 2007 breakdown for North America:
Chart showing most popular colors in North America



PC.

[ColonelCash]

Re: DuPont 2008 Automotive Color Popularity Report

I'm in the less than 1% group! I've got a wine colored TransAm. Also been called Eggplant, Grape and Purple.