In its newly released BASF Automotive OEM Coatings Color Report 2025, BASF’s Coatings division reveals a significant shift in the global automotive color landscape. Consumers are moving away from traditional color preferences, with individuality and nature-inspired aesthetics becoming dominant themes. Among all hues, green has emerged as the most striking color signal worldwide—steadily climbing in popularity and joining red and blue as one of the top three chromatic shades globally. However, the once-dominant red and blue are now both showing signs of decline. In 2025, blue’s market share decreased by 1%, while red experienced a sharper drop to just 3%, signaling the gradual retreat of traditional chromatic colors from the market.
Meanwhile, gray strengthened its position as the symbol of modern elegance, posting a notable 2% increase in share. White saw a slight decline, while black remained strong but showed early signs of contraction, with overall solid-color finishes falling to 18% of the market. This evolution underscores how global color trends are blending timeless elegance with diverse self-expression—with green leading the movement toward more personalized and sustainable automotive palettes.
Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA): From Silver to Green—A New Chapter in Automotive Colors
In 2025, the EMEA region continues to see green gaining momentum, surpassing red to become the symbol of sophistication and individuality. Silver’s once-prominent position continues to fade, while black and gray remain steadfast among achromatic colors. White has slightly declined but adds a subtle shift to the region’s neutral palette.
Florina Trost, Head of Automotive Color Design for BASF Coatings in EMEA, noted:
“The green trend first appeared in the EMEA region several years ago. In our Automotive Color Trends reports, we showcased a range of green tones—demonstrating just how diverse and expressive the shades aligned with today’s green movement have become.”
Americas: Chromatic Comeback and Individual Expression—Green Leads the Way
In the Americas, 2025 presents a dynamic and evolving color landscape. Gray has slightly declined from 2024 levels but remains significantly higher than in 2023. Silver is regaining ground, while white continues its downward trajectory. The share of chromatic colors has increased by nearly 2%, reflecting consumers’ growing appreciation for vivid, expressive hues.
Although red and blue have historically dominated the region, green, beige, brown, and purple are rapidly rising—illustrating a clear shift toward nature-inspired and diversified aesthetics.
Mark Gutjahr, Global Head of Automotive Color Design at BASF Coatings, explained:
“As early as 2021, we identified brown and beige as key trend colors in our Automotive Color Trends report. Today’s market performance validates our early forecasts and highlights how long-term trends continue to shape the industry.”
Asia-Pacific: Gray Consolidates, Green Expands Its Territory
In 2025, the Asia-Pacific automotive color market remains dominated by achromatic tones. Gray continues its upward trend, while white keeps declining. Black and silver maintain their strong presence, reaffirming the enduring appeal of classic neutrals.
Within the chromatic spectrum, green continues to gain traction, while blue sees a mild retreat. The character of green is also evolving—from lighter, fresher tones to deeper, more natural shades—reflecting the region’s growing emphasis on sustainability and renewal. Though the overall share of chromatic colors has slightly decreased, the rich diversity of hues continues to express the region’s appetite for individuality.
Chiharu Matsubara, Head of Automotive Color Design for BASF Coatings Asia-Pacific, commented:
“In previous trend forecasts, we introduced a nearly solid gray with subtle color interference effects and a versatile, urban green tone. Today, gray’s position in the market is increasingly secure, while green’s footprint continues to expand across the region.”
BASF’s Automotive OEM Coatings Color Report provides an in-depth exploration of the global and regional distribution of automotive colors, based on data derived from BASF’s analysis of global car production and paint applications for passenger vehicles. Together with BASF’s annual Automotive Color Trends series, the report showcases the company’s long-standing expertise in color and design innovation.
