Brits Continue Their Love Affair With Grey Cars
For the sixth year in a row, grey is the most popular colour for new cars in Britain, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The SMMT’s figures show that grey accounted for 26.8% of all new car sales in 2023, followed by black (20.2%), white (16.5%), blue (15.1%), and red (7.5%).
The popularity of grey cars can be attributed to a number of factors, including its perceived neutrality, its ease of care, and its association with luxury. Black is another popular choice for similar reasons, while white is often seen as a safe and classic option. Blue and red are more eye-catching colours that appeal to drivers who want to make a statement.
The SMMT’s figures also show that the popularity of car colours varies depending on the type of buyer. Fleets buying cars for business use are more likely to choose grey, black, or white, while private buyers are more likely to choose blue, red, or green.
Here are the top 10 colours for new cars in Britain in 2023:
- Grey 26.8%
- Black 20.2%
- White 16.5%
- Blue 15.1%
- Red 7.5%
- Silver 6.5%
- Green 2.8%
- Orange 1.7%
- Yellow 0.9%
- Bronze 0.6%
It is interesting to note that cream, pink, and maroon are the least popular colours for new cars, accounting for just 1% of the market combined. This suggests that British car buyers tend to favour more conservative colours.
The popularity of car colours is likely to continue to evolve in the coming years, as manufacturers introduce new and more exciting colours, and as buyers become more environmentally conscious.
In addition to the above, here are some other interesting facts about the colours of new cars in Britain:
- Green, however, experienced a comeback, reaching its highest volume since 2005 at 53,426 units and a market share of 2.8%, the highest since 2004.
- Black was the favoured shade among executive cars and luxury saloons
- Cream, pink and maroon are Britain’s rarest colours, comprising just 0.03% of all registrations, comprising just 604 registrations combined.