Grey still tops the chart for new car colours

Offer British car buyers 50 shades and we’ll still choose grey, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Grey cars made up more than a quarter (27.8%) of all new models registered in 2024, the SMMT has revealed. That makes it seven years in a row with grey cars at the top of the charts.

There’s no sign that grey’s popularity is fading – some 543,464 grey cars were registered last year, up 6.7% on 2023.

Black was the second most popular shade, accounting for 21.7% of new cars registered. In recent years white cars have often completed a monochrome podium, but in 2024 blue took third spot with 14.9% of the market. It’s the first time blue has been in the top three since 2010.

White was very close behind in fourth – if this were an election the White Party might demand a recount, with the same share as blue to the nearest tenth of a percent. Red takes fifth spot, albeit with its lowest market share since 2003.

While a long way behind grey, black, and blue, the number of green cars on the road is growing. Last year, 3.5% of cars were green, the highest share for this colour since 2004. Are buyers choosing green for ‘green’ powered cars? Perhaps, but grey was still the top colour choice for battery-electric vehicles in 2024.

Green was especially popular in London, with 3,281 green cars sold. In every region, grey was the top-selling colour, although white beat black to second place in the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

Some 93 colours feature in the SMMT’s data. Pink was the least popular, accounting for just 145 registrations. Turquoise has declined rapidly, from 3,627 registrations in 2023 to just 362 last years.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “While 2024 saw more new car buyers go green, with a record number of EVs reaching the road, the ‘face’ of the market remains familiar, with grey and black proving perennially popular. While manufacturers strive to ensure every driver can have their pick of a vast choice of paint colours and personalisation options to suit their individual tastes, it seems UK car buyers’ preferences remain steadfastly monochrome.”

While there’s no right or wrong colour for a new car, it is worth considering these figures when specifying your next purchase. Choosing one of the more popular shades will make a car easier to sell on in a few years. An unusual colour could put off buyers who would prefer a car in a more fashionable colour.

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