New figures have shed light on the UK’s favourite car colours and, it turns out, Brits aren’t the most adventurous of motorists…
The UK’s Favourite Car Colours
New figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have shed light on our car colour preferences; and, it turns out, Brits simply aren’t that adventurous. Nearly a quarter of all new car registrations in 2020 were grey, making it the nation’s favourite option. Some 397,197 grey cars were purchased over the course of the year, making up 24.3% of the total sold. Black, once the go-to option, lost its place to grey back in 2018 and has since sat comfortably in second place. Overall, 61.6% of all registrations last year were for grey, black or white cars; appropriate, one might argue, for an otherwise colourless 2020.
Overall, there wasn’t much movement amongst the remaining top ten car colours; barring yellow and ‘bronze’. These shifted places, putting them in 9th and 10th place respectively. Yellow actually managed to increase its market share by an impressive 50%. However, this still only equated to 6,816 registrations. Interestingly, red registrations dropped below 200,000 for the first time in a decade. With just 147,222 new cars bearing the colour, it’s its worst year since 1997. Overall, grey was the most popular option for both diesel and petrol cars. Meanwhile, white was the most favoured for EV models. Only three regions in the UK didn’t scramble for grey, too. In the Isle of Wight and in the Scottish Borders motorists opted for blue and in Strathclyde they went for white options.
‘Reflects the Atmosphere’
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, commented on the colour trends and the otherwise dire state of the British automotive industry. He said, “2020 was a pretty dark year for the automotive industry and having grey as the top new car colour probably reflects the atmosphere. The sector, however, continues to provide valuable mobility, from vans delivering essential goods to private cars helping key workers do their jobs, and click and collect offers a lifeline for the industry, helping to keep manufacturing going”.
He added, “it cannot, however, replace the showroom experience and the sector has taken great steps to ensure dealers are Covid-secure with the flexibility to manage customer appointments so car buyers can choose a new car and colour in a safe environment”.
Top 10 Colours in 2020
1) Grey – 397,197 registrations
2) Black – 324,630 registrations
3) White – 283,285 registrations
4) Blue – 276,057 registrations
5) Red – 147,222 registrations
6) Silver – 122,214 registrations
7) Orange – 20,584 registrations
8) Green – 14,460 registrations
9) Yellow – 6,816 registrations
10) Bronze – 4,0003 registrations
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