White remains UK’s favourite new car colour but buyers heading back to black

Demand for white cars has fallen for the first time since 2005, but the colour is still the most popular among new car buyers.

According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) black is regaining popularity; 2016 saw the highest number of black cars registered since 2007.

White and black are the two most popular colours, taking more than 40% market share between them.

More than half a million white cars were sold in 2016 – a fifth of all registrations – although figures show its popularity is starting to fade with demand falling -2.1%.

Car colours - Biggest winners and losers in 2016:

Going up

Pink may still be a niche colour choice, but last year demand grew 82.7% to 3,527 units.
A 44% rise in demand for Bronze cars saw a record 8,902 people spec the colour in 2016.
Turquoise’s popularity grew fourfold last year, from just 792 registrations in 2015 to 2,718.

Going down

Is brown’s time in the top 10 coming to an end? Demand fell -40.1%, dropping it one place to ninth.
Appetite for beige fell -27.6% to under 10,000 for the first time since 2000 with 8,426 cars registered.
Silver saw the biggest volume decline, falling 22,209, with 273,220 buyers choosing it compared with 843,870 in its heyday back in 2004.

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Colin Fudge - 20/01/2017 10:58

The white is only selling the most because most of the manufacturers are offering special deals on that colour and charging excessive amounts on other colours
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- Clare - 20/01/2017 12:23
  
  I disagree, white it often classed as a solid paint and most manufacturers have had 'special' deals on metallic paints. Traditionally solid paint cars attract a lower residual value therefore metallic paint cars have been working out cheaper in terms of leasing for many.
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