Did some paint manufacturer give an unbelievable deal to car companies? Why are the majority of new cars gray?

[UniqueUserName]

That was an attempt at an interesting title.

Around here, it seems that regardless of manufacturer, the new model vehicles have some grayed-out pastel, flat color. They do have a clear coat, but the color is either plain gray, blue-gray, brown-gray, green-gray, etc. They look the color of fleet vehicles for the government back in 80s and 90s.

Do the car companies get together to decide the new colors? The first one I saw, I thought, "hmmm, OK." Is this basically the car equivalent of fashion? Now when I see one, I think, "Oh, that's a new car." Is that the main driver of this color scheme? So a casual observer can recognize who has the latest model car?

[BOSSHOG]

1. There are two brand new GMC Sierra trucks in town that color

I do like it but I’ll stick to my Volcano Red.

[MMBeilis]

2. Family members in the auto industry tell me that it's just like the women's clothing industry. Color consultants.....

......do consumer study groups, identify trends and pick color palettes for cars up to five years in the future.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

4. Its a combination of this

and simple sales. If they offer colors year over year and they don't sell enough to justify them, they get dropped.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. the main driver of this color scheme?

Cost. Fewer colors, less cost. If the colors are all pastel, maybe they don't have to empty and flush the frame dip tank before changing the finish color.

[ret5hd]

5. Ran across this video a while back...might help explain...

(some of it is a complete lack of metallic flake)

[hlthe2b]

7. LOL. I was just posting this in mine below: they ALL LOOK LIKE PUTTY mixed in the paint and I find it

very much like vomitus!

[UniqueUserName]

9. That was interesting!

Thanks!

[hlthe2b]

6. I've put off buying because I HATE THE PAINT COLORS. No metallic, but all look like putty has been mixed in.

Very off-putting to me. (and I finally got used to all the black wheels that look like the car had been stripped--(as I recall seeing around NYC all the time years ago-- with stolen cars on blocks at the exit ramps)

[dlbell]

8. Many new colours look washed out

The car companies must have gotten a good deal on white paint as a lot of the new colours look like they have been diluted with white paint. No depth to the paint job at all.

[sanjermane]

10. No snowflakes in this car

Battleship gray was the big color earlier this year in the suburbs of Cleveland. It goes so well with our camo and tactical vests.
Now I see more putty. All I can think of is the used 1968 Plymouth Duster I once owned. It looked like a cheap paint job the dealer used to cover all the rust. It was.

[AllaN01Bear]

11. i remember when they were all white , including my late moms toyota tercell hatch back. we put in tee shirts on the

front seats so we could identify the car. pre find my car thing.

[TexLaProgressive]

12. Gray in my opinion is about the most dangerous color

It lacks visibility in rain, fog and snow. I would never own one.

[fargone]

13. Car colors 2023

I read not long ago that 80% of the new cars sold in 2023 were grayscale, i.e. black, white, gray, or silver.

[yellowdogintexas]

14. mine is bold Democrat blue. It is a 2019 but it is new to me

First car I have ever had that wasn't white or some shade of gray. The paint is a little sparkly if you look at it just right. I love it!

[OldBaldy1701E]

15. It's preparation.

In case we have to go all 'Mad Max' on everything.

[Sogo]

16. My most recent auto purchase was red.

I almost didn't get it because of the color, but now that I've had a red car, I don't think I'll ever have any other color. The reason being is that other drivers SEE you! Gray, white, and gold/tan, not so much....

[mnhtnbb]

17. I have had only red cars since 1988

That's 36 years and 6 cars!

[a kennedy]

18. My Honda CRV is white, and I swear there are more white SUVs then any other car color. Sheesh.....

I am so happy mine has black door handles, and side mirrors, so I don’t have to be walking around the parking lot at the grocery store looking for her.