81 Percent Of Car Colors In The World Are Boring, Here's The Reason And Meaning Behind Each Choice

JAKARTA - Car color is often considered only aesthetic, but in fact color choice has a deep psychological meaning.

Then what is the color of the car the most found on the streets today? If the answer is white, black, gray, or silver, then this is indeed the dominant color of car paint globally.

The colors above according to the annual Global Color report released by BASF, a giant German chemical company, reveal 81 percent of new cars produced worldwide in 2023 were painted in achromatic feel (white, black, gray, or silver) aka neutral colors that are often considered "boring."

It is also mentioned that the dominant neutral color today is often associated with moderate practicality, minimalism, and misery. White and black reflect the strength and sophistication without luxury, while silver and gray tend to be chosen by those who want to mingle but maintain a classy aura of professionalism.

This phenomenon also shows a global trend where the majority of vehicle buyers choose practicality and safe resale value, instead of expressing their personalities through bright colors. These safe colors continue to dominate, making the streets a monochrome ocean of color uniform.

Psychology Behind Car Color Selection

Launching Jalopnik, Monday, November 10, there was a survey from Axalta in 2021 finding that color is a key factor in 88 percent of vehicle purchase decisions. Far beyond business reasons such as the value of resales, experts believe that the preference for car color without realizing it reflects a person's deepest feelings and personality.

This theory mentions that people start associating colors with good feelings based on past experiences, or that impulsively passionate individuals are attracted to bright colors.

For those who dare to look different, red becomes a symbol of passion, intensity, and the life of adventurers. While there is a myth that red cars are vulnerable to being ticketed, research by CJfactor Parts actually shows the opposite fact: white cars get the ticket at most (19 percent compared to 16 percent for red). The red color is closely related to high-performance sports cars, such as Ferrari with the iconic Rosso Corsa (Red Racing). The red choice reflects a brave, passionate, and ready for action.

On the other hand, yellow is a magnet of attention on the highway, emitting optimism and energy. This color is often associated with happiness and attracting brave and passionate drivers, as seen in classic muscle cars such as Dodge Top Banana. Interestingly, in addition to showing a cheerful personality, yellow selection also shows financial intelligence; a recent iSeeCars study reports that yellow cars maintain their selling value better than other colors.

Meanwhile, blue car fans are generally considered to be trustworthy, reliable, and calm individuals. Dark blue (such as royal blue) nuances are often associated with the figure of authority, while the light blue symbolizes optimism and creativity. Blue attraction is also seen in the world of racing, especially through legendary livery Gulf Oil that combines light blue and orange as an optimistic symbol of self-confidence, making it an option for those who value calm and reliability with a touch of history.

Green offers a dual interpretation. On the one hand, it reflects the racing legacy through the iconic British Racing Green. On the other hand, this color is now known closely to nature, peace, and harmony, making it an option for environmental observers.

However, whatever the nuance is, the choice of car color is an unconscious reflection of you. The choice of paint is not just color, but also a statement about who you are.