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Popularity of white cars grows among new vehicle buyers

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It’s a white-out on the highway.

Car paint company PPG Industries says white continues to be the most popular auto color globally and is increasing its lead. The share of white cars built during the 2013 model year rose to 25% from 22% in the prior year.

Silver and black tied for second at 18%. They were followed by gray, red, natural hues, blue and green.

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White also remains the most popular color in North America, accounting for 21% of the cars built in the region in the past year, the same as last year. It is followed by black at 19%, also the same, gray at 17% -- up slightly -- and silver at 15%, down slightly. Red, blue, natural hues (such as sand) and green trail behind.

“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’s auto paint manager.

“Car manufacturers are seeking ways to create variations of white, silver, black and gray that are specific to their brands and that complement different vehicle types,” Harrington said. “Distinct effects such as micas, glass flakes, fine bright aluminum and hue-shifting pigments help them achieve this.”

When it looked at the North American car market, PPG found that sporty models are most likely to feature shades of red and blue.

Gold and beige dominated the minivan segment.

New luxury vehicles, 57% of which were painted gray in 2013, are most likely to feature effect finishes in black metallic and white pearl.

Color varies most across sport-utility vehicles, with relatively equal distributions of shades of white, black, blue, red and gray.

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Harrington said to look for more cars in blue among the 2014 models.

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