In the world of automobiles, where functionality often meets style, the choice of colour plays a pivotal role in shaping the identity of a vehicle. The automotive industry has long recognized the impact of colours on consumer preference, with hues ranging from classic blacks and whites to bold eye-catching reds and blues.
Beyond simple aesthetics, automotive colours have evolved to reflect societal trends, technological advancements and even psychological influences. In particular, the 2023 Automotive Colour Trends report from BASF notes how shifts in automotive colours can reveal the automotive industry and consumers’ push for environmental sustainability and awareness. For instance, in the Americas, the report notes that this year’s key colour is ‘zenomenon’, which mimics a transparent blue midcoat, and reflects a shift towards cooling effects in vehicles with solar reflectance and sensor-based mobility concepts.
According to Liz Hoffman, head of Automotive Color Design for the Americas, “in this year’s collection [for the Americas], red leaning pastels and midtones are replaced by restorative yellow and green effects, suggesting renewal.” Increasingly made from sustainable raw material sourcing, for BASF, the Americas’ 2023 pallet “seeks optimism and divergence that celebrates possibilities in all modes of art and design.”
Explore this page to see the pallet that is currently driving car colours forward.
