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Our Pedigree in Colour


For more than 80 years PPG Industries has been at the forefront of colour in the automotive and refinish industry. Colour continues to play a vital role in automotive styling.

PPG remains at the forefront by working closely with OE manufacturers and styling teams to ensure we provide accurate intermix formulas for every vehicle produced around the world.

Car colours have moved on a long way since the black of the first car built in 1885 – the Benz Patent-Motorwagen – and the subsequent, mass-produced Ford Model-T. Today, the OE manufacturer tries to differentiate themselves with the introduction of more exotic pigments.

Whatever tomorrow brings in terms of automotive colours, PPG will have a formula to match it.

Decades of Colour

1950s Solid colours only; black, blue, green, and then the successful introduction of white

1960s Metallic pigments were introduced and by the end of the decade accounted for 57% of the market. Blue, green, aqua and beige were also popular

1970s Growth of the earth tones saw yellow, brown, maroon and green starting to dominate the new car market

1980s White starts strongly again but then there is the rise of red and black

1990s Dominated by white and starting to see the growth of silver. Pearls and micas are introduced

2000s The height of silver and black. Xirallics®, ChromaFlair and ColorStream pigments emerge

2010s The decade stared with a 75% achromatic palette – ¾ of every new car is white, black or grey/silverand ending with bright blues and reds growing in popularity. New pigments in development to create liquid metal, glass flake and next-generation pearls