How do manufacturer's decide on paint colours?
Discussion
As per title really, how do manufacturers pick what colours are available on their cars? Why isn't a standard GT86 available in green from the factory? Or a Golf in bright yellow?
So many cars these days only come in a limited range of colours, which may include 2 greys, 2 whites, and a few blacks or dark blues, with a flat red thrown in as a no cost option.
There have been a few threads on here bemoaning the lack of colour range by some manufacturers, but what I would love to know is how are these ranges decided upon? Anyone with industry knowledge know?
ETA: of course I have just realised I have a rogue apostrophe in the title <lubes up>
So many cars these days only come in a limited range of colours, which may include 2 greys, 2 whites, and a few blacks or dark blues, with a flat red thrown in as a no cost option.
There have been a few threads on here bemoaning the lack of colour range by some manufacturers, but what I would love to know is how are these ranges decided upon? Anyone with industry knowledge know?
ETA: of course I have just realised I have a rogue apostrophe in the title <lubes up>
Edited by SSBB on Monday 9th July 08:49
The other thing is that you seem to have periods of cars having very similar colours. Our 2009 Mondeo is a greeny-silver which I've also seen variations of on Volvos and Toyotas. There was also a time when blues were in vogue and another when an orangey-red was in vogue and so on.
I know that I was unimpressed by the Ford colour palette when we bought the Mondeo and the one I liked, a deep black cherry, was being discontinued. I appreciate that colours are going to be led by sales but I think the Mondeo came in two different greys and a silver.
I know that I was unimpressed by the Ford colour palette when we bought the Mondeo and the one I liked, a deep black cherry, was being discontinued. I appreciate that colours are going to be led by sales but I think the Mondeo came in two different greys and a silver.
A few years ago, when Nissan aunched the 2nd generation Primera, I spent a fantastic day at their base in Cranfield.
Among the people I met, the paint and trim guy. He told me decisions were made on a mixture of demand and focus groups.
There was a big room with every colour of the range there. He asked me to pick out the colour I found most attractive. I went for an orangy copper colour. This pleased him as I was under 30, and it was a colour aimed at younger customers. There was a metallic lime green, which he tood me older buyers liked.
Both colours were called "grabber" colours, designed to get attention. The orange was used in all the advertising
This was a long time ago, so things may have changed, but he said for fleet sales you needed red, white, blue and silver in the range. He also told me different markets vary in colour popularity. For example black is seen as posh ione country, gold sels well in another, and green doesn't sell elsewhere etc. You might notice this when you go abroad and see a model of your car you couldn't see in a UK brochure.
Also, importers restrict colours on low volume models. For example my 2007 Mazda CX7 was only offered in the UK in black as the standard colour. Trendy at the time. Metallics were limited to a grabber blue - looked striking under showreeom lights, silver, and grey for fleet sales, and a dark met red as an alternative.
Among the people I met, the paint and trim guy. He told me decisions were made on a mixture of demand and focus groups.
There was a big room with every colour of the range there. He asked me to pick out the colour I found most attractive. I went for an orangy copper colour. This pleased him as I was under 30, and it was a colour aimed at younger customers. There was a metallic lime green, which he tood me older buyers liked.
Both colours were called "grabber" colours, designed to get attention. The orange was used in all the advertising
This was a long time ago, so things may have changed, but he said for fleet sales you needed red, white, blue and silver in the range. He also told me different markets vary in colour popularity. For example black is seen as posh ione country, gold sels well in another, and green doesn't sell elsewhere etc. You might notice this when you go abroad and see a model of your car you couldn't see in a UK brochure.
Also, importers restrict colours on low volume models. For example my 2007 Mazda CX7 was only offered in the UK in black as the standard colour. Trendy at the time. Metallics were limited to a grabber blue - looked striking under showreeom lights, silver, and grey for fleet sales, and a dark met red as an alternative.
LuS1fer said:
The other thing is that you seem to have periods of cars having very similar colours. Our 2009 Mondeo is a greeny-silver which I've also seen variations of on Volvos and Toyotas. There was also a time when blues were in vogue and another when an orangey-red was in vogue and so on.
I know that I was unimpressed by the Ford colour palette when we bought the Mondeo and the one I liked, a deep black cherry, was being discontinued. I appreciate that colours are going to be led by sales but I think the Mondeo came in two different greys and a silver.
I do wonder whether they are going on what has sold in the past, or whether they are trying to influence what is popular by restricting choice.I know that I was unimpressed by the Ford colour palette when we bought the Mondeo and the one I liked, a deep black cherry, was being discontinued. I appreciate that colours are going to be led by sales but I think the Mondeo came in two different greys and a silver.
es draws " he used to say !the-photographer]SBB said:
As per title really, how do manufacturers pick what colours are available on their cars? Why isn't a standard GT86 available in green from the factory? Or a Golf in bright yellow?
Depends which country you are in! Golf colours for Germany:
Really, why can't they offer that range here? Love those greens. Do they just think that Brits are more boring, and therefore won't buy those colours; or is it, in fact, that we are boring and don't buy them, so they now don't bother offering.Depends which country you are in! Golf colours for Germany:
SSBB said:
Really, why can't they offer that range here? Love those greens. Do they just think that Brits are more boring, and therefore won't buy those colours; or is it, in fact, that we are boring and don't buy them, so they now don't bother offering.
I suspect the latter. You used to be able to buy cars in all sorts of lovely colours... and everyone still bought grey or silver. SSBB said:
Really, why can't they offer that range here? Love those greens. Do they just think that Brits are more boring, and therefore won't buy those colours; or is it, in fact, that we are boring and don't buy them, so they now don't bother offering.
Yes, some of those colours are more expensive over and above the standard metallic cost (Audi Exclusive I suppose) BUT VW UK import a very restricted set.Edit, checking here, http://www.volkswagen.de/de/models/golf_gti/CC5.ht... some colours will cost an additional E2,000
Edited by the-photographer on Monday 9th July 10:13
The other thing to consider is that everytime you add a colour to a range it costs a huge amount in D+D costs on every painted part to get all the testing done. Not to mention the little things you may forget like updating the brochure etc.
I spent a day in the styling studio with the guys that choose the different colours and it was fascinating, but they're much to arty for my engineery brain to deal with!
I spent a day in the styling studio with the guys that choose the different colours and it was fascinating, but they're much to arty for my engineery brain to deal with!
wormburner said:
Dealers don't want you to order a car they won't want to buy back in a few years. If you buy a car in orange they'll have to upset you with their low offer, and they don't want to do that.
If you are only given the option of safe colours, that removes that issue.
Interesting point, does anyone know how people generally pay for new cars in Europe/Germany?If you are only given the option of safe colours, that removes that issue.
"All" personal lease like in the UK? Which would make the final valuation calculations more difficult/worse i.e more expensive for the customer.
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