DuPont Says Silver, Black in Race for World's Most Popular Car Color

2010 DuPont Global Automotive Color Popularity Report Includes South Africa for First Time;

Protection of Color Represented in This Year's DuPont Color Trend Show

WILMINGTON, Del., Dec. 7, 2010 – Silver and black are in tight competition for the title of "world's most popular car color," according to DuPont. As the global automotive coatings leader, DuPont issued its 58th Global Automotive Color Popularity Report today, which includes automotive color popularity information and regional trends from 11 leading automotive regions of the world. Each year, the DuPont report reflects data from established and emerging growth markets in the automotive industry; and in 2010, for the first time, includes trends from South Africa. DuPont's study is the original and most comprehensive report on global automotive color popularity and remains the first of its kind compiled on a global basis.

Only two percentage points separate silver from black as the leading vehicle color globally, and black's popularity in key automotive markets outside of North America is substantial. White and gray are tied for third place, with gray's popularity increasing three percentage points from last year's survey. Red, the only non-neutral color in the top five, is increasing in popularity, taking the fifth spot on the global color popularity rankings. The top 10 global vehicle colors are as follows:

1. Silver – 26 percent
2. Black/Black Effect – 24 percent
3. White/White Pearl and Gray – 16 percent each (tie)
5. Red – 6 percent
6. Blue – 5 percent
7. Brown/Beige – 3 percent
8. Green – 2 percent
9. Yellow/Gold – 1 percent
10. Others – <1 percent