PPG Industries, the world's leading manufacturer of transportation coatings, today released its annual automotive color trend data, which shows that white continues to be the most popular car color globally based on 2013 automotive build data.

According to PPG's global data, white ranked first (up 3 percent from last year to 25 per cent) and silver and black tied for second (18 percent each). These were followed by grey, red, natural hues, blue and green, all of which maintained the same share of popularity as in 2012. In Europe, white ranks first (27 percent, up 4 percent from 2012), followed by black (19 percent, down 2 percent), grey (15 percent, down 2 percent), silver (13 percent), blue, natural and red (tied three ways with 6 percent each, each down 1 percent), and green (4 percent, up 1 percent) and other colors (also 4 percent for 2013 and up 1 percent from 2012).

"While white continues to be the most dominant choice in car color, we see growth in the variety of whites being offered to consumers," said Jane E. Harrington, PPG manager, color styling, automotive OEM (original equipment manufacturer) coatings. "Car manufacturers are seeking ways to create variations of white, silver, black and grey specific to their brands that complement different vehicle types. Distinct effects such as micas, glass flakes, fine bright aluminum and hue-shifting pigments help them achieve this."

In fact, across European vehicle types in 2013, PPG found that:

• Sport models are most likely to feature colors in the "other" category.

• The largest percentage of green vehicles is in the sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment.

• Luxury vehicles are most likely to feature black and grey finishes, and they are least likely to feature white, silver or green.

Looking ahead, Harrington said drivers may see more blue in 2014 models. PPG's data has shown increases in the popularity of blue for certain regions and vehicle types, such as an increase in North America this year and more than double the popularity in sport models there between 2011 and 2013.

In response to the continued demand for color innovation in automotive coatings, PPG has introduced more than 60 exterior shades to manufacturers for consideration in styling 2016-2017 model year vehicles. Titled "Colorography," the collection includes five palettes:

Hi-Breed emphasizes the new design harmony between man and nature with a palette consisting of neutrals, pastels and bright hues such as Lapis, a brilliant gemstone blue that uses ANDARO® tint dispersions by PPG.

Mosaic is based on the wealth of artisan patterns, shapes and prints, as well as their strong colorations, and it includes colors such as Autumn, a vivid metallic orange with colored aluminum flake that evokes an image of fall foliage.

New Spirit reflects the primitive, natural colors of a desert sunset with shades such as Sunray, an intense yellow tri-coat color with a high-sparkle glass flake.

Magnifigance combines the words magnificent and elegance, and the palette recaptures elaborate styling details and opulent, regal colors for a post-recession world with colors such as Mystic Magenta, a vibrant purple with a unique hue-shift effect.

Theorem is a precise and minimal contemporary palette that uses rich brown, red and deep blue as accents for balanced neutrals such as Crisp Grey, a graphite color with a surprise highlight of green metallic.