The global automotive colour landscape in 2025 reveals a clear move towards individuality and nature-led choices, according to BASF Coatings’ latest Colour Report for Automotive OEM Coatings. Traditional favourites are losing ground, making way for fresher, more expressive tones.
Among chromatic colours, green shows the strongest global growth. Its steady rise has secured it a place in the top three colours worldwide, alongside blue and red. However, both of these long-established leaders are in decline. Blue has dropped by one percentage point, while red has fallen sharply and now represents just three per cent of the global market. This marks a notable shift away from conventional colour preferences.
Within the achromatic range, grey has strengthened its appeal, rising by two percentage points and reinforcing its image as a refined, contemporary option. White has edged down slightly, while black remains popular, though increasingly in effect finishes rather than solid tones. Overall, solid colours now account for only 18 per cent of the market, highlighting a broader move towards variety and visual depth. Together, these trends point to a balance between timeless elegance and personal expression, with green leading the transition towards a more distinctive and sustainability-inspired palette.
EMEA: Green replaces silver as a style statement
Across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, green continues its upward trajectory and has overtaken red, becoming a symbol of individuality and sophistication. Silver continues to lose relevance, while black and grey remain dominant among neutral shades. White has seen a modest decline but is evolving through a wider range of subtle variations, enriching the neutral spectrum.
The Americas: Growing appetite for expressive colour
In the Americas, the picture is more varied. Grey has dipped slightly compared with 2024 but remains stronger than in 2023. Silver is regaining some ground, while white continues its gradual decline. Notably, the share of coloured vehicles has increased by nearly two percentage points. Although red and blue have historically dominated this region, green is now leading a broader shift that includes beige, brown and violet, reflecting a renewed interest in natural and diverse tones.
Asia Pacific: Neutral strength with expanding green influence
The Asia Pacific region remains largely driven by achromatic colours. Grey is on the rise, white is falling, and black and silver hold steady. Green is gradually expanding its presence among chromatic options, while blue has softened slightly. Green shades now range from light and fresh to deeper, more traditional hues, aligning with themes of renewal and sustainability. Even as the overall share of chromatic colours contracts, the variety on offer underlines a continued desire for individuality.
BASF’s Colour Report analyses global and regional automotive colour preferences using data based on worldwide vehicle production and paint application. Combined with the company’s annual Automotive Colour Trends® forecast, it provides a detailed insight into the evolving relationship between colour, design and consumer taste.
